Building Healthy Communities Iwona Iwanicka D The Green

Building Healthy Communities Iwona Iwanicka ŁÓDŹ – The Green Ring of Tradition and Culture Photograph provided by the Urban Planning Agency in Łódź Insert picture here

The Green Ring of Tradition and Culture Multisectoral project – leader: City Urban Planning Department A concept to protect the most valuable areas and objectives – parks, cemeteries, allotment gardens, university campus surrounding the city centre with its main street

Reasons for the LAP n Bring the idea of the Green Ring of Tradition and Culture back to life and develop it n The idea will help to make better use of the city potential as a friendly place to live in and as an attractive tourist destination n This can be achieved by improving the quality of public spaces which constitute the Ring n Better quality of public spaces will promote active lifestyle n It will also develop the sense of identity in the inhabitants n It may serve as a tool to promote the city and make it more competitive

Actions Action implemented: Production of eco-bags promoting the Green Ring – Department of Public Health (December 2009) – 1 300 euro n Production of 2010 calendar showing the most interesting places and objects of the Ring – Department of Public Health (December 2009) – 3 500 euro n 2010 World Health Day in the Green Ring of Tradition of Culture (April 2010) 1. Nordic Walking in the green areas of the Ring - Department of Public Health + a private enterprise (Krok za Krokiem) (150 euro) 2. Open health promoting event (Nordic Walking instruction, BMI and blood pressure measurements, mammography, different forms of physical exercise in the gym, consultations with a dietician) – Department of Public Health + a fitness club (IMPULS) localized in the Ring (850 euro) 3. A series of walking tours and a picnic in the green areas of the Ring for school children and children from orphanages – Department of Public Health + a tourist association (PTTK) – 350 euro n The end of summer in the Green Ring of Tradition and Culture (September October 2010) 1. Nordic Walking in the green areas of the Ring for 6 groups of city residents – Department of Public Health + a private enterprise (Krok za Krokiem) - 600 euro 2. A series of 15 guided tours in the Ring for different groups of city residents – Department of Public Health + a tourist association (PTTK) – 2 250 euro n

Actions Action planned: n n n n Writing and publication of the Green Ring of Tradition and Culture tourist guide – Department of Public Health + Urban Planning Agency in Łódź (November 2010 March 2011) - 3 200 euro Organization of lessons on the Green Ring in Health Promoting Schools in Łódź – Department of Public Health (November 2010 – March 2011) – 500 euro Organization of a conference to promote the Green Ring – Urban Planning Agency in Łódź + Department of Public Health (January 2011) – 2 000 euro Designing and administration of a Green Ring website for tourists – Urban Planning Agency in Łódź + Department of Public Health (February 2011) – 500 euro Modernization of parks localized in the area of the Green Ring – Department of Environment Protection and Agriculture + district agencies of the City Office (2011 -2020) – 5 500 000 euro Building of small elements of tourist and infrastructure in the green areas of the Ring - Department of Environment Protection and Agriculture + district agencies of the City Office (2011 -2020) – 170 000 euro Modernization of sports facilities in the area of the Green Ring – Department of Sport (2011 -2020) – 5 250 000 euro

Action planned – continued: n Renovation n n n of cycle paths in the area of the Green Ring – City Roads and Transport Board (2011 -2018) – 500 000 euro Organization of sports events in the objects of the Green Ring (promotion of the city through sport) – Department of Sport – 1 000 euro a year Organization of health promoting events in the green areas of the Green Ring – Department of Public Health – 90 000 euro a year Production of materials promoting the Green Ring – Department of City Promotion, Tourism and International Cooperation – 200 000 euro Organization of guided tours to the historical objects in the Green Ring – Department of City Promotion, Tourism and International Cooperation – 50 000 euro a year Organization of art and photo competitions on the Green Ring and exhibition of the works - Regional Sanitary-Epidemiological Agency - 12 500 euro Organization of an open forum on the green Ring for the residents of Łódź and a family tournament in the green areas of the Ring - Regional Sanitary – Epidemiological Agency – 15 000 euro Most of the planned action will be possible only if external funds are acquired

IMPORTANT The Green Ring of Tradition and Culture has been included as one of the basic elements of the spatial structure of the city in the project of the Study of Conditions and Directions of Space Development of the City of Łódź. The Study is one of the key strategic documents which determine the general principles for further development of the city.