SHORT DESCRIPTION: Miraflores park, also called Seville secret oasis, is the largest green area in the metropolitan city Seville, Spain. The park, with its 90 hectares, is in an historical area which contained two orchards established in the roman times. Through the years the area was abandoned and transformed into an uncontrolled place of dumping the debris. Miraflores park is a citizen initiative to transform the urban area into a park which contains a natural lake and an urban community garden. The residents of Seville can put their name into a lottery in order to win a credit to have a plot in the park, the only obligation is that the production cannot be sold. The processes for the refurbishment of the area began at 1987 and the park became one of the most visited places in the city.
KEY ACTIVITIES: Since 1983, 150,000 residents have joined together in order to change the face of the area. The park offers a lot of activities for its tourists, which supports area management like the esplanade around the natural lake. Every part of the park is surround with a wide biodiversity of trees like: jacarandas, oleanders, olives, palm trees, pomegranates, cedars, plum trees from japan, bayberries and more. Additionally, the park supports activities of regeneration land use and urban development like a skating rink, the reconstruction of buildings which resembles the historic period of the park (culture heritage) and, of course, the Huertas de Ocio, a large area where neighbors grow vegetables for their own consumption (sustainable production and consumption). Still it is possible to find in the park a space of wild growth to preserve the natural habitat.
RELEVANT DIMENSION: diversification, restoration, sustainable agriculture, water management, CSA (community supported agriculture).
BUSINESS MODEL: public sector institution (school/hospital), citizens/community group, non-government organization, EU funds.
