On 29 January 2026, during an official ceremony at IPM Essen (Germany), the winner of the Green Cities Europe Award 2025 was announced. Belgium received the prestigious award for its Zuidpark project in Antwerp, an ambitious urban transformation that turns a former parking and event area into more than eight hectares of climate-resilient green space. France (Parc des Ateliers) and Poland (Burza: Action Park with the Warsaw Uprising Mound) were awarded second and third place respectively.
The winning project
The jury praised the Zuidpark project for its scale, ambition and multifunctionality. By relocating parking underground, the project reclaims valuable surface space for greenery and public life, while restoring the historic dock structure of the site. The park combines heritage, ecology and social use, offering diverse atmospheres and spaces that serve residents of all ages. According to the jury, Zuidpark is a strong and forward-looking example of how cities can create high-quality green space while addressing climate challenges. The project stands out for its ecological value, sponge-based water management, ecosystem services and its potential to inspire similar transformations across Europe. “After working on the project for 10 years, it is wonderful to see that the residents have embraced anew park in their lives’’ Jeroen Pasman – Project leader – AG Vespa.
Second place: France – Parc des Ateliers, Arles
France was awarded second place for Parc des Ateliers, a powerful conversion of a former industrial site into a resilient Mediterranean landscape. The project integrates architecture, topography and climate-adaptive planting to create natural microclimates and reduce heat stress. With its autonomous water system and strong biodiversity performance, the park serves as a reference for ecological urban design.
Third place: Poland – “Burza” Action Park, Warsaw
Uprising Mound, Warsaw, Poland received third place for a project that uniquely combines memory, ecology and everyday use. The “Burza” Action Park and the adjacent Warsaw Uprising Mound form a living monument where history, recreation and biodiversity coexist. The jury highlighted the strong use of native vegetation, preservation of existing woodland and the project’s positive impact on well-being, climate resilience and accessibility.
Eight inspiring European projects
Organised by the European Nurserystock Association (ENA) and the Green Cities Europe campaign, the annual award celebrates outstanding European projects that demonstrate how greenery can enhance climate resilience, biodiversity, and quality of life in urban environments.
This year’s competition brought together eight national projects, each reflecting a different approach to urban greening:
- Belgium – Zuidpark (Antwerp)
- Bulgaria – Gardens of the World (Pazardzhik)
- France – Parc des Ateliers (Arles)
- Germany – Natural PikoParks (Berlin)
- Hungary – Dráva Park (Budapest)
- Netherlands – Working Together / ‘Samen aan de Slag’ (Leiden)
- Poland – “Burza” Action Park (Warsaw)
- Sweden – Piet Oudolf Garden (Värnamo)
Together, the projects demonstrate the wide range of ways greenery can be embedded in cities, from large-scale parks and post-industrial transformations to small, community-driven and highly reproducible initiatives.
Jury and assessment
An independent international jury evaluated the projects based on criteria including quality and quantity of greenery, design, environmental and economic impact, innovation, material use and reproducibility. The jury noted the overall high quality of submissions and the shared recognition of nature-based solutions as essential to contemporary urban life.
About the Green Cities Europe Award
The Green Cities Europe Award highlights the importance of green infrastructure in creating healthier, more resilient and liveable cities. By sharing inspiring examples from across Europe, the award encourages policymakers, designers and communities to invest in green solutions that benefit both people and nature.
More information about the Green Cities Europe Award and all participating projects can be found at award.thegreencities.eu.
