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Create a Public Park in Cesis, Latvia

Region: Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe, Latvia
Author: Vanda Gasina, Cesis Branch of Latvian Nature and Monuments Conservation Society
Consortium Member: Green Liberty (Zala Briviba), Latvia
Status: Needs Funding Budget: $1686 Collected: $0 Needs: $1686
Goal: to organize neighborhood residents and local officials to turn a neglected landscape into a community natural recreation area

Information about our organization

The Cesis Branch of the Latvian Nature and Monuments Conservation Society is a non-governmental public organization working on ecological activities. The society organizes different activities, exhibitions, and workshops developing people’s friendly attitude to nature. We have close cooperation with the Regional Environmental protection Board. Over the past five years we have preparied and implemented several projects and training programs together.

Background of the project

One of the greenest areas of Cesis is near Grammar school No.2 and a new apartment house area. It forms an original landscape of the city – a small spring flowing through the steep bank overgrown with bushes and trees. People draw drinking water from the spring. This is also a potential recreation area. However this area around the spring is rather polluted.

Activities to clean this surrounding area started in Spring of 2002. "Kalmuiza", a cultural, environmental and educational center started a project for pupils from the local grammar school No 2 to clean up their school park, remove waste from the spring area and analyze the quality of spring waters.

We are proposing new activities, building on the previous ones, to involve local inhabitants of Cesis in developing this natural area so that they can walk along well organized trails and enjoy a clean environment in the heart of the city.

Goal of the project:

To develop a recreational territory in the city near the fresh spring.

Main objectives:

• To investigate and document the biodiversity in the territory near the spring;
• To organize community work in order to clean up and tidy the area;
• To organize a competition for schoolchildren to develop their appreciation of their natural surroundings;
• To initiate a partnership between the Cesis public administration, citizens and NGOs to foster new joint environmental activities.

Groups that will be involved:

• Schoolchildren,
• Cesis city council,
• Latvia Nature and Monuments Conservation Society Cesis Branch,
• People from apartment houses near the territory of the spring.

These objectives will be achieved through the following activities:

• Community work to clear the waste from the spring territory,
• Repair of benches and steps
• Preparation of landmarks and tourism signs
• Organizing and holding a local art competition “Spring waters in Latvia”.

Expected outcomes:

• Through their involvement in clearing the territory of the spring will encourage positive attitudes of the loccal residents towards green areas of the city;
• The territory around the spring will be cleaned and changed into nice recreation area;
• Youth participation and public awareness of environmental improvement will increase.

Budget

Construction materials (cement, wood, sand)	$200
Technical drawings	$120
Transportation of waste	$200
Communication (phone, fax, mailing expenses)	$105
Landmarks	$83
Personnel costs (coordinator, and 2 consultants)	$350
Literature and handouts	$ 100
Stationery	$100
Local transportation	$75
Purchasing the instruments	$200
VF Administrative fee (10%)	$ 153
Total requested from Virtual Foundation	$ 1686