Villa Ghigi Foundation and Park


The Villa Ghigi Foundation, instituted in 2001 as an initiative of the Municipality of Bologna, the Province of Bologna and the University of Bologna, is a more developed expression of the Villa Ghigi Center, created in 1980 to use a large and pleasant public park (28 hectares) in the low hills of Bologna to observe nature, and a well known Center for environmental education and a highly appreciated voice for the public administration on natural and environmental aspects of the territory. The Villa Ghigi Park it is a patrimony that the Foundation, which has been entrusted with the management of the green area since September 2004, is committed to caring for and developing for enriching it and making the park into a huge natural laboratory for the city’s schools. Beyond education and spreading environmental awareness, the Foundation is specialized in the planning of public green areas and projects for new public parks and gardens, itineraries, books and leaflets.

Contact details

Function / Organisation : Director , Villa Ghigi Foundation and Park

E-mail : mino.petazzini@fondazionevillaghigi.it

Website : https://www.fondazionevillaghigi.it/
Via San Mamolo 105
40136, Bologna, Italia

Stakeholders

  • Centro Antartide, takes part with the Foundation to the BAC-Bologna Ambiente Comune, the multi-centre for the education to sustainability
  • RES, network of education to sustainability, the Foundation joins the network
  • Other private actors dealing with sustainability (eco&eco), food and supermarket and sustainability (Coop Alleanza 3.0), research and environment (CNR Bologna), bank and financial institutions (Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna) publishing (Giannino Stoppani, Giunti Editore) voluntary and social activities (GVC, Hamelin) + others
  • Social and cultural associations, NGOs dealing with the valorization and protection of historical, naturale heritage and green areas (ADSI – Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane, Club Alpino Italiano – Bologna, FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano, Garden Club Camilla, WWF – Italia), slow and sustainable tourism (Touring Club Italiano – Bologna, Trekking Italia – Bologna), social and recreation activities (Annassim, ANCESCAO, ARCA Ravenna, Malvasia, Percorsi di Pace). These association work together with the Foundation for implementing the activities.

  • All the protected area of the Emilia-Romagna Region

  • University of Bologna, founding partner

  • Municipalities involved in the metropolitan area Metropolitan City of Bologna, founding partner

    Emilia Romagna Region

    • ARPAE Emilia-Romagna,
    • IBCN-Institute for Cultural and artistic goods of the Emilia Romagna Region

Objectives

  • Implement actions for the care and the valorization of natural and landscape characteristics and quality of the Park;

  • Promote social and cultural initiatives dealing with environment and sustainability for schools and citizens.

Legal framework & Budget

It is a foundation.

Activities

The main activities are: - Analysis and plans for green spaces management, taking into consideration the different landscape characteristics (rural, hill and urban); - Promotion and valorization of natural and rural characteristics; - Setting up and valorization of green public spaces and the renovation of historical green spaces; - Setting up of green pathway, school activities and green itineraries and paths; - Educational programs for schools in the city of Bologna and other municipalities of the metropolitan area, education to sustainability; - Design and dissemination of leaflet about gardens and parks of the city; - Support the Municipality of Bologna in urban planning; - Garden therapy.

>Innovation & Outcomes

Service and product innovation: educational programs targeted for schools and site visits; Organizational innovation: management of one of the main and larger Park through a Foundation and a private and public partnership. The outcomes are: - Educational programs for school active since the ’80s; - Raised awareness among citizens and schoolchildren about environment and sustainability; - Renovation and care of green pubic spaces.


Main obstacles & Next steps

More on :

https://www.fondazionevillaghigi.it/


Project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund