Introduction
World Urban Parks Europe Region is one of four regions intended to enhance member activity with related conferences, seminars, technical tours, working parties, and face to face meetings and networking. The Europe Region includes the whole of Mainland Europe, Iceland, Ireland, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.
Europe Region Committee
To ensure direct communication with the Board the Chair of the Europe Region is a Board director and is supported by an elected Deputy and Secretary, and committee members.
There will be further opportunity to join the regional committee, particularly if you are from a country not yet represented, or to join any Committee working party.
There will be opportunities for the Europe Region Committees and members to meet face to face at the Europe Region Congress, and otherwise by web conferencing.
Table 1. Europe Region Committee
Role |
Name |
Contact |
Country |
Chair |
Dr Anna Steidle |
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Germany |
Deputy Chair |
Kevin Halpenny |
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Ireland |
Executive Officer |
Noemi Jolibois |
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France |
Member |
Pekka Engblom |
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Finland |
Member |
Felicitas Heimann |
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Norway |
Member |
Elisabeth Fournier |
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France |
Member |
Ana Luengo |
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Spain |
Member |
Axel Fischer |
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Switzerland |
Member |
Brigitte Loewenthal |
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Switzerland |
Member |
Ola Melin |
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Sweden |
Terms of Reference
Click here for the 2016 World Urban Parks Region Committee Terms of Reference describing the role and powers of the committee.
Action Plan 2016
Click here for the Europe Region Action Plan
Europe Region Congress and Events
World Urban Parks Europe Region is expected to have the strongest initial regional membership. The close proximity of countries and members will provide a number of opportunities to attend programmed events and activities with modest travel costs. The Europe Region Committee has responsibility to approve the annual Europe Region Congress, partnering with other Europe conferences and other related activity.
World Urban Parks European Congress 2017 at Birkenhead Park - Landscapes Alive: Community, Sustainability, and Heritage
In partnership with Wirral Council, UK, 16-19 October 2017
Open for Registration>>>
WORLD URBAN PARKS EUROPEAN CONGRESS 2017 - Landscapes Alive: Community, Sustainability and Heritage; Wirral, UK 16-19 October 2017
A World Urban Parks and Wirral Council UK partnered congress, this is part of the celebrations for the 170th anniversary of the opening of Wirral’s Birkenhead Park in 1847.
Located in the Merseyside area of the UK Birkenhead Park, designed by Joseph Paxton, is considered one of the world's first publicly funded parks, and influenced Central Park in New York. There is a rich program with conference themes relate to community and heritage, including presentations and discussion on large urban parks.
The program outline is:
Sat/Sun 14-15 October | Pre Congress tour |
Monday 15 |
Public Opening of the Congress and Trade Show Exhibition 1:30-3:30pm Meeting of WUP Europe Region open to all WUP members (consulting on needs and representation); Floral Pavilion 4:00-5:30pm Meeting of the WUP Large Urban Parks Committee (workshop on new Large Urban Parks Award); Floral Pavilion |
Tuesday 16 | Speakers/Presentations; Keynote Speaker – Douglas Blonsky, Central Park NY |
Drinks reception | |
Wednesday 17 | Speakers/Presentations |
Debate | |
Thursday 18 | Keynote Lecture – Birkenhead Park |
Tours of Birkenhead Park/Port Sunlight Village | |
Congress Dinner and Awards Evening | |
Friday 19 | Post Congress tour: Park design |
Saturday 20 | Post Congress tour: Wirral Wonders |
Prices in Great Britain Pounds are:
Tuesday 17th - Thursday 19th October 2017
Full Congress Delegate Tickets:
Members £369.00 (WUP Speakers £300)
Non-Members £439 (includes a 1-year WUP Membership)
Day Tickets
Members £139 (WUP Speakers £100)
Non-Members £209 (includes a 1-year WUP Membership)
Registration, Accommodation, and Program are available here>>>
- park management and development
- regeneration, planning and place making
- the built, historic and natural environment
- recreation, health and well-being
- community engagement and action
- tourism, the visitor economy and place marketing
- environmental issues and sustainability
The Congress will provide opportunities to network, gain international perspectives, support professional development, share best practice and explore innovative solutions. It will feature high profile speakers from across the globe.
Birkenhead Park Opening 1847
Birkenhead Park Today
Concept for Wirral Waters
First World Urban Parks Europe Region and Hortis Congress, Albi, France 2016
The 1st World Urban Parks Europe Region Congress was held in partnership with Hortis, the French association for urban parks management, and their annual congress from 5-7 October. The venue was the Grand Theatre in the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Albi, France.
Titled Green Heritage and Green Infrastructure: Evolution or Revolution in Society the congress featured 46 speakers and workshop presenters (17 international) plus Hortis region presenters and technical tour leaders for a dozen local destinations. Overall the congress attracted an enthusiastic 374 registrants - for the congress, a large trade show and accompanying person tours. The conference was structured with a WUP half day on the 4th with about 30 members presenting on key issues in their countries and holding a Large Urban Parks Committee meeting, and the main congress from the 5th to 7th with morning presentations alternating with workshops or technical tours in the afternoon. Nine Hortis members received the World Parks Academy and Hortis partnered Certified Parks Professional - France certificates at the Gala Dinner on the 6th. International WUP members numbered 35 plus 7 accompanying persons.
View the bilingual French-English conference program here.
Presentation on Hortis and French key issues by Elisabeth Fournier, Hortis Secretary General, at the WUP Workshop
Opening Address by Jean-Pierre Gueneau, President of Hortis, with WUP Chair Dr Anna Steidle waiting to respond; Grand Theatre, Albi
Congress participants at the Garden of Martels in Giroussens
The previous major event in 2015 was the World Urban Parks World Congress in Ponte de Lima, Portugal from 25 - 30 May 2015. This was in association with the Smart Parks and Gardens Conference of the 9th Iberoamerican Congress of Parks and Public Gardens and Ponte de Lima Municipality. Although a World event, this was a great opportunity for Europe Region members to meet face to face and participate in related World Urban Parks workshops and meetings.
Ponte de Lima, venue of the first World Urban Parks Congress, 2015.
A number of the Europe Region members at a workshop prior to the Europe Region meeting.
The most recent conference, supported by antecedent organisation Ifpra was the four-yearly Nordic Parks Congress, held in Malmö Sweden 20-22 August 2014.
Europe National Ambassadors
National Ambassadors (previously 'Commissioners') are appointed for the first 1-2 years of World Urban Parks in an ambassadorial role to assist new and transitioning members from their country. These are experienced and well-connected professionals. Where countries have national professional/peak parks, open space, and/or recreation associations that are members of World Urban Parks, these will also be a source of assistance to members. National Ambassadors operate independently but have an opportunity to meet other ambassadors and discuss issues at regional events, meetings and activities.
Country |
Ambassador |
|
Belgium |
Jos De Wael |
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Cyprus |
Charalambos Kordatos |
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Czech Republic |
Jan Svejkovsky |
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Finland |
Pekka Engblom |
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France |
Daniel Boulens |
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France |
Thiery Beaute |
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France |
Laure Guillemette |
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Ireland |
Kevin Halpenny |
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Israel |
Hugo Jan Trego |
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Luxembourg |
Hanno Dirkse |
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Monaco |
Anthony de Sevelinges |
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Netherlands |
Pieter Arkenbout |
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Norway |
Sissel Lerum |
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Portugal |
Manuel de Carvalho e Sousa |
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Sweden |
Gunnar Ericson |
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Switzerland |
Axel Fischer |
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United Kingdom |
Peter Holman |
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