A Participatory Approach as a Preliminary Action for Urban Projects Based on Nature-Based Solutions

Nature-based solutions (NBS) have been implemented in various cities and have been proven to provide climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as other benefits such as increased biodiversity, improved air quality, disaster risk reduction, and better water management. To promote and implement these practices in urban design and planning, smart city research has emphasized participatory planning and approaches. This work investigates the benefits and drawbacks of participatory approaches to better include stakeholders in decision-making and create long-term change in urban areas. A case study in Turin was chosen to test a participatory facilitation tool for the rehabilitation of a public park. A workshop was organized to test a co-design gamification tool with university students. The aim was to redesign an existing park using nature-based solutions and incorporating users’ opinions and suggestions. The goal was to increase citizens’ sense of belonging and care towards the public space and to raise awareness about the importance of climate change mitigation solutions.