Riga: Square transformation
The Challenge
Reversing car-centric urban development in a historic neighbourhood
The historic Āgenskalns Market has always been the heart of the Āgenskalns neighbourhood in Riga. The nearby school, shops, banks and post office provide a rather large flow of people and traffic through the centre of the neighbourhood. The market is located next to a busy traffic intersection where public transportation, bicycles, pedestrians and cars meet.
Over the years, the square in front of the main entrance of the market had transformed to primarily accommodate cars. It was a parking lot and worked as a shortcut for drivers who wanted to skip waiting for the green light at the intersection. This meant that entering the market was challenging and unsafe for pedestrians.
The Solution
Empowering citizens to design a more accessible and safer urban public space
The residents of Āgenskalns took up the challenge themselves to transform the car park into a safe, appealing and accessible public space for all visitors of the marketplace.
Making an impact
In 2019, a group called “The Society of Āgenskalns Neighbourhood Residents” submitted a proposal in the very first participatory budgeting call organised by Riga Municipality to transform the parking lot into a pedestrian zone and an appealing public space with benches and greenery. Representatives of the society were active participants in the project, and in spring 2022, the transformed Āgenskalns Square opened to the public.
Lessons learnt
The square has become more accessible for parents with baby carriages and people in wheelchairs and separated from the street and car traffic by placing flower boxes around the perimeter, therefore making it safer for pedestrians. It is used as a meeting place and a space for public events, and during Christmas time, the neighbourhood’s central Christmas tree is placed in the centre of the square, with residents taking part in decorating it.