Burgas: one of Bulgaria’s “greenest” towns

published on 2/1/12 12:59 PM

Photo: БГНЕС

The port town of Burgas was recognized twice end-2011 as “the greenest city” in this country, after having been pronounced “the best place for living in Bulgaria” in 2010. The first recognition came as the Sustainable Development of Green System special award, handed by the Green Municipality Foundation. The second one – “Bulgaria’s Greenest Town 2011” prize in the category “settlement with more than 200,000 inhabitants” was received within the frameworks of the Green Bulgaria campaign of the Ministry of Environment and Waters.

One of the main reasons for this recognition was the active municipal policy over the past years, encouraging… cycling across the town. A network of alleys was created for this purpose, along with a system for bicycle renting. This initiative belongs to the young Mayor of Burgas Dimitar Nikolov.

“We decided that this was an important issue for our town, for young people that live in an active manner,” Mr. Nikolov said, receiving the awards from Bulgaria’s newly-elected President Rosen Plevneliev. “We have managed to built up with our own funding 11 km of bicycle lanes over the past years and currently we have started the construction of another 20 km. We also encouraged the creation of the Bicycle Town Association, along with a series of concerts and other initiatives for popularization of the usefulness of biking. The municipality started to gift bicycles to students on a large scale, we entered all schools and kindergartens. So now the initiative belongs to the whole town and we can’t be stopped.”

The network of bicycle lanes in Burgas crosses both its busiest parts and the parks, allowing sightseeing tour for the biker. The second reason for this “greenest” title is the growing of the town’s green system. 2,000 new trees and 3,000 bushes have been planted in it over the past 4 years. It is one of the few Bulgarian settlements with new parks built and maintenance of the old ones improved. Energy saving lights are installed in those, along with energy saving irrigation system. One more thing that is not so common – places for dog walks are fenced here and clearly distinguished. However, the totally renewed Sea Garden of Burgas is its biggest pride. The Rosenets and Mineralni Bani parks have been landscaped too, as the barbeque nooks of those are favorite resting places in the summer.

Chair of the Chamber of Architects and a citizen of Burgas Petko Yovchev told a Radio Bulgaria reporter more details on another major element from the town’s outlook – its pedestrian zones.
“Burgas turns into a leader not only in this country, but also in Europe, as far as pedestrian areas are concerned,” the expert claims. “Some 22,000 m2 of pedestrian zones were constructed and the creation of another 50,000 m2 is expected. This will probably turn Burgas into the European town with the largest pedestrian areas, linked into a whole. To compare – the famous La Rambla pedestrian zone in Barcelona takes about 10,000 m2. The Buchanan one in Glasgow is situated on some 7-8,000 m2. So, Burgas really has the chance to take the leadership position”

Burgas is among the first towns in Bulgaria with approved general development plan. This plan is one of the few that provide not reducing, but growing of green areas, architect Yovchev goes on to say. In his words this plan guarantees the irreversibility of the processes launched for bringing in harmony into Burgas’ development.

The town’s recent guests have noticed for sure that its environment has become friendlier for both its inhabitants and the tourists. Its management listens more and more to the opinion and view of its citizens on the future of Burgas.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

По публикацията работи: Maria Dimitrova

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Burgas: one of Bulgaria’s “greenest” towns

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