Winning back green spaces to revive the city

• Pierre DHÉNIN
  Director, Espace Naturel Lille Métropole
  

Summary

In the 1990s, the Lille Metropolitan area was one of the most built-up zones in France with only fifteen square metres of green space per inhabitant, set against a backdrop of industrial wasteland and canals whose ownership had reverted to the state. Pierre Mauroy, president of the Lille Urban Community and mayor of Lille, launched a programme with bold political, administrative and technical ambitions. This resulted in the creation of a new dimension to the Lille Urban Community, and in 2002 a specific department, the Espace Naturel Lille Métropole joint initiative. Covering an area of two thousand hectares, the initiative paid great attention to the preservation and protection of fragile natural sites while also satisfying the desires of visitors for freedom of movement and meeting the demands of farmers. One of the open areas within the Espace Naturel Lille Métropole, the Deûle Park, won the 2006 French grand prize for landscaping which added further official recognition of the scheme's success.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Loïc VIEILLARD-BARON.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it in French (PDF help) using your password or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference EV070508).