| Anotation | Urban open spaces, intrinsic to the city's natural and cultural fabric, embody a reservoir of services and benefits crucial for enhancing citizens' well-being as well as ecological integrity. However, they often suffer neglect due to processes such as urban shrinkage, industrial decline, ownership transformations, and unsustainable governance practices. Neglected Urban Open Spaces (NUOS) encompass diverse phenomena, including incomplete sidewalks, vacant plots, industrial sites, deteriorated waterfronts, oversized streets, and socially underutilized green spaces (Hargreaves, 1996; Bielinskas et al., 2015; Cervero, Guerra, & Al, 2018; Magdziak, 2019). The contradiction lies in the fact that while NUOS inadvertently foster biodiversity through overgrowth, they simultaneously deteriorate in aesthetic and functional appeal. Conversely, when these areas are actively maintained, their biodiversity typically substantially diminishes. ECOHOOD aims to demonstrate that the provision of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) is possible, attainable and feasible while addressing societal challenges, such as the need for urban fabric densification and the creation of people-friendly places. NUOS transformation into vibrant, inclusive places holds particular significance at the urban neighborhood level to foster community cohesion and urban resilience, offering a novel dimension to the project. Through the enhancement of life quality and a sense of community within an area (placemaking) (Peinhardt, 2021; Vidou, & Latinopoulos, 2023), the spaces-turned-places can be reclaimed and cherished by local inhabitants and ecosystems alike, contributing to broader climate change mitigation efforts. |
