EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Liveable clean district

Liveable clean district - Deventer, The Netherlands

Introduction

For this 'Our Neighbourhood's Move' (OBAZ) project the city of Deventer selected the districts City Centre, Rivierenwijk and Bergweide. The aim is to bring about livable, clean districts by curbing nuisance and graffiti. The project involves local residents, businesses and young people.

Problem

The aim is to bring about livable, clean districts by curbing nuisance and graffiti. The project involves local residents, businesses and young people. The overall aim is to make the inner city more accessible to traffic and at the same time safer, cleaner and more attractive to young and old alike.

Description

In 2001 the city held a special OBAZ meeting at which residents were invited to indicate points of friction. After this, a group of residents went to work together with the city and Raster welfare group. This resulted in the choice of the following themes: junior, senior, traffic, safe and clean.

When these ideas had been further developed, residents were asked to help elaborate the plans with the theme groups. The overall aim is to make the inner city more accessible to traffic and at the same time safer, cleaner and more attractive to young and old alike.

The following partners are involved in enhancing the quality of life, safety, security and integration in the districts of Deventer: residents and resident groups, the Raster welfare group, police, city wardens, Tactus, Stedelijke Organisatie Buitenlanders Deventer (urban organisation foreigners Deventer), cultural bodies, local businesses, housing corporations, youth groups, senior citizens groups etc.

Results

Five concrete plans were drawn up, one for each theme. These were published on 23 June 2003.
The campaign to remove graffiti, 'Graffiti-vrij, Binnenstad blij!' (English: Graffiti-free, City happy), started on 18 October 2002.
The residents group Buurt Aan Zet Schoon (English: Our Neighbourhood Clean) approached home-owners with a New Year offer under which residents can take out an attractively priced subscription to have their house fronts cleaned and kept free of graffiti. The group is a partner in the anti-graffiti covenant signed in October.
The covenant unites sixteen organisations, institutions and the city in a joint effort to clean up the city and keep it free of graffiti, making it more attractive and safer for both visitors and residents.
Apart from combating illegal graffiti, the city and Buurt Aan Zet also intend to make facilities available for graffiti artists to display their art in legal graffiti. Talks are currently under way between the city's 'culture agent' and representatives of graffiti artists to find suitable sites.

Contact info

Deventer, Department of Welfare, Culture & Education
Phone: +31 57 0693180

Project start date

01/01/2001

Links

City of Deventer Onze Buurt Aan Zet

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation