Green Ring

Pattern Scale: City

Description of the Pattern:

The Green Ring consists of a collection of peri-urban parks on the periphery of the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. The Green Ring was proposed as a remedy to the degradation of the natural area surrounding the city, especially to the Zabalgana forests and the Zadorra River. This degradation had become a barrier between the urban environment and the rural environment.

The parks are linked strategically to create a cohesive eco-recreational corridors totaling more than 833 hectares, or just over 3 square miles, with an expansion planned to take the system to 913 hectares. The parks contain a wide diversity of ecosystems, including forests, rivers, wetlands, meadows and banks, all of which provide plentiful ecological value. For recreation, the Green Ring boasts 90km of pedestrian and cycling routes, as well as a 33km route around the Green Ring.

• As part of the city’s urban plan, the Green Ring was intended to accomplish the following:
  Provide a comprehensive solution to periphery space

• Promote conservation and biodiversity

• Satisfy citizen demand for outdoor leisure spaces

• Take advantage of the natural space as an educational resource

• Involve citizens in the conservation and heritage of the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz

More Information:
Vitoria-Gasteiz Green Belt

Who Submitted this Pattern: Logan Ende, Biophilic Cities