“Walking together is the first step towards building greener, more connected communities.”
ANEL in collaboration with the Municipality of Latsia-Geri and the SURF Lab of the University of Cyprus, organized a participatory city walk in Latsia, on May 6, 2025. The walk aimed to foster dialogue between local authorities, experts and the community on how to improve urban spaces through inclusive and low-cost interventions inspired by tactical urbanism.
The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including residents of Latsia, the Mayor Mr. Pittaras, Municipal Council members and project partners. The walk covered key urban areas including commercial corridors, residential streets and underutilized public spaces.
As participants moved through the city on foot, they observed and discussed various aspects of the urban environment — from walkability and public safety to accessibility, greenery and social interaction. Citizens were encouraged to share their insights, raise concerns and propose small-scale improvements on areas that could have a tangible impact on daily life.
The walk served as a platform for co-creation, allowing local authorities to hear directly from the community and enabling residents to play an active role in shaping the city they live in. The discussion emphasized the need for shaded walkways, safer crossings cleaner public areas, and more inclusive spaces that serve people of all ages.
Building on the momentum of the Latsia walk, ANEL continued the initiative the following day (May 7) in Geri, once again partnering with the Municipality of Latsia-Geri and the SURF Lab. The second walk extended the project’s participatory approach to a different context, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities of Geri’s area.
Participants included the Mayor, Deputy Mayors, municipal councilors, residents and members of the project team. The route passed through neighborhoods, parks and pedestrian zones, highlighting key areas in need of improvement or redesign.
Throughout the walk, spontaneous conversations emerged with residents who shared firsthand accounts of how they experience public space in their daily lives. Their input revealed both practical needs — such as improved lighting, seating and accessible infrastructure — and broader desires for greener, more welcoming environments.
The walk concluded with an open discussion among participants, where ideas were collected and noted for further exploration and integration into the project’s planning phase. The activity reinforced the project’s commitment to community engagement and underscored the value of walking as both a diagnostic and participatory tool in urban planning.
Together, the two walks demonstrated how involving citizens in a hands-on, ground-level exploration of their neighborhoods can spark meaningful change and lay the groundwork for more inclusive, sustainable urban development.
Both walks were organised within the framework of the Interreg Med project “Streets for Citizens”, which aims to foster more active citizen participation in interventions aimed at enhancing urban sustainability.
