Parque Urbano da Várzea joins European flood prevention project

The Parque Urbano da Várzea in Setúbal, Portugal, has been selected to participate in AQUAlive, a three-year European project aimed at developing a guide for creating floodable parks to combat climate change.

Coordinated by the University of Antwerp and involving partners from Belgium, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, and Turkey, the initiative studies how urban green spaces can mitigate flood risks, reduce urban heat, and promote biodiversity. The 19-hectare park utilizes retention basins to temporarily collect rainwater and allow for gradual drainage, a method that has already proven effective in protecting the Baixa de Setúbal area during heavy rainfall.

In Portugal, scientific coordination is managed by the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon, with the Setúbal Municipality serving as a partner. Researchers will analyze the park across five key areas: governance and planning, hydrology, biodiversity, climate, and citizen participation. The project is part of the Driving Urban Transitions partnership under the Horizon Europe program and is scheduled to run until December 2028.