EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The City centre, Rivierenwijk/Bergweide

The City centre, Rivierenwijk/Bergweide - Deventer

Introduction

In Deventer in 2001, at specially organised meetings for each district, residents were asked to point out bottlenecks. Subsequently, a group of residents, together with the municipality and the Raster welfare organisation, went to work. This resulted in the selection of the themes junior, senior, traffic, safe and clean.

Problem

Deventer selected the districts City centre, Rivierenwijk and Bergweide for the Our Neighbourhood’s Turn project. The aim is the realisation of liveable, clean neighbourhoods by limiting nuisance and graffiti. Residents, entrepreneurs and young people will be involved.

Description

After the different ideas had taken clearer shape, fellow residents were asked to further work out the plans with the theme groups. The collective aim is a more traffic-friendly, safer, cleaner, city centre, which is attractive to seniors and juniors alike.

Approach

The following partners collaborated on the project Neighbourhood’s Turn in Deventer to increase the quality of life, safety and integration in the Deventer districts: residents and residents organisations, Raster welfare organisation, the police, city special constables, the Tactus care institute for addicts, Deventer Urban Organisation for Foreigners, cultural institutions, businesses, Medium and Small Businesses organisation, catering establishments, educational institutions, United Traffic Safety Organisation, housing corporations, youth organisations, senior organisations, neighbourhood sport workers and the District Improvement department.

Results

For the city centre, 5 concrete action plans were drawn up: Action plan safe, Action plan clean, Action plan traffic, Action plan youth, Action plan seniors. For Rivierenwijk/Bergweide plans were also drawn up around the themes of Safety, Young people and Social cohesion and quality of life.
On 18 October 2002 the campaign Graffiti-free, happy City centre residents! was launched. The resident working group Neighbourhood’s Turn - Clean approached private homeowners with a New-Year’s offer. Residents received a lucrative offer for a subscription to make and keep their property graffiti free. The municipality and Neighbourhood’s Turn wish, besides discouraging illegal graffiti, to offer the possibility of legal graffiti, where graffiti artists can create their art without worries. There are ongoing consultations via the cultural broker and representatives of graffiti artists concerning suitable locations.
Other projects and results are, among others: the institution of a client group with the police, the development of a system for feedback on the settlement of complaints by the police, the institution of a 'mountain-bike team' by the police, execution of lighting plans, resident contribution to municipal policy with regard to rubbish and traffic-circulation systems, extra bicycle racks, refurbishment/ layout of neighbourhood activity centres and various (youth) activities.

Contact info

Municipality of Deventer
Mr H. van der Linden, tel. +31 57 06913180

Project start date

01/06/2001

Links

Municipality of Deventer Neighbourhood approach Deventer (in Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation