Prefeitura do Recife
The Pitch
Recife City Hall (Prefeitura do Recife) worked with community members and stakeholders to develop a riverfront restoration plan that improved the city’s connectedness and climate resilience. By implementing the plan, they are revitalizing riparian ecosystems, planting trees, and adding bike lanes and public plazas.
The Problem
Recife has one of the highest climate risks of any city and is extremely vulnerable to severe weather events. Flooding along the Capybara River puts many communities in danger.
The Process
- Outlined a comprehensive plan to recover the Capybara River’s banks by creating a new linear park that serves low-income neighborhoods
- Designed the riverfront renovation plan to improve green spaces, active mobility infrastructure and public areas
- Held public meetings for each section of the project to receive input from residents, landowners and other stakeholders
The Impact
- Built 1,300 meters of the linear park as of 2023; Recife City Hall aims to complete the park in 2037 and recover a total of 30 square kilometers of natural areas and public spaces
- Intends to:
- Add 168 kilometers of ecological corridors
- Build 220 kilometers of environmental passageways
- Design 71.42 hectares of neighborhood squares and parks
- Implement 1,012.76 hectares of new district or large urban parks
- Renovate 95.45 hectares of green spaces
- Add 192 native species
- Include 50 trees per linear kilometer of road
- Increase the proportion of public green areas from 1.2 meters squared per inhabitant to 20 meters squared per inhabitant
- Improve residents’ mobility along the riverfront through creation of 12 walkways and 230 kilometers of cycle paths
- Lower individual use of motorized transport to just 20% of total traffic by 2050
- Increases residents’ interaction with the natural environment, especially with mangroves along the river
- Supports local livelihoods and job opportunities by providing areas for business along the riverfront
- Increases community investment in generating a walkable, restored riverfront
