From Philosophy to Practice: Città Slow and Green Space Planning in Small Urban Communities

Authors

  • Agnieszka Jaszczak University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Agriculture and Foresty, Department of Landscape Architecture

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18690/rg.20.2.4963

Keywords:

Città Slow, sustainable urbanism, public space revitalization, green infrastructure, community identity, Supra-Local Revitalization Programe

Abstract

This paper examines the philosophy and principles of the Città Slow (Slow City) movement, which promotes a mindful and measured lifestyle in small urban environments. It explores how towns worldwide adopt these principles to strengthen community identity, preserve local traditions, and support environmental awareness. The study focuses on the Supra-Local Revitalization Program in selected towns in the Warmia and Mazury region of Poland, highlighting public space projects aligned with the movement’s values. Special attention is given to the role of greenery in urban planning, showing how green infrastructure improves aesthetics, fosters social cohesion, and enhances environmental resilience. The paper offers insights into the practical benefits of applying Città Slow principles for sustainable urban revitalization.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Amrhein S., & Hospers G.J. (2025). Cittaslow: Degrowt approach or place promotion? An analysis exemplified by the case of Artà, Mallorca, European Planning Studies, 33:3, 377-397 https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2024.2443626

Farelnik, E., Stanowicka, A., & Wierzbicka, W. (2020). Cittaslow-Model Rozwoju i Współpracy Małych Miast. UWM w Olsztynie: Olsztyn, Poland

Jaszczak, A., Kristianova, K., Pochodyla, E., Kazak, J.K., & Mlynarczyk, K. (2021). Revitalization of Public Spaces in Cittaslow Towns: Recent Urban Redevelopment in Central Europe. Sustainability, 13, 2564 DOI:10.3390/su13052564

Kaczmarek U. & Kaczmarek T. (2024). Geneza i przesłanki członkostwa małych miast w sieci Cittàslow. Przykłady z Niemiec, Włoch i Polski. Rozwój Regionalny i Polityka Regionalna, 69, 215-233

Kerbler, B. (2011). Trajnostno urbanistično načrtovanje v okvirih staranja prebivalstva. Revija za geografijo, 6(2), 53-66. https://doi.org/10.18690/rg.6.2.3836

Knox, P. L., & Mayer, H. (2009). Small Town Sustainability: Economic, Social, and Environmental Innovation. Basel, Boston, Berlin: Birkhaüser. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9783034608978

Küçükergin, F.N., Dedeoğlu B.B., & Öztürk Y. (2024). How does social change encourage or discourage the support for the development of Cittaslow? Cities, 145: 104721 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104721

Kušar, S. (2012). Usmeritve za trajnostni prostorski razvoj območij proizvodnih dejavnosti. Revija za geografijo, 7(1), 115-130. https://doi.org/10.18690/rg.7.1.3860

Lee, C. (2011). Korea’s first ‘Slow City’ in limbo. The Korea Herald.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20111007000496

Mayer, H., & Knox, P.L., (2006). Slow cities: sustainable places in a fast world. Journal of Urban Affairs, 28 (4) 321–334 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9906.2006.00298.x

Heitmann, S., Robinson, P., Povey, G., & Dieke, P. (2011). Slow food, slow cities and slow tourism. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845936846.0114

Ozer, M., Can, A. S., Ekinci, Y., & Ozer, A. (2025). Leveraging Cittaslow Promotion on Social Media to Enhance Tourists’ Behavioral Responses Toward Small Urban Tourism Destinations. Journal of Travel Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875241311550

Stowarzyszenie „Polskie Miasta Cittaslow”. (2015). Supralocal Revitalisation Program of Cittaslow Towns in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Olsztyn: Warmia and Mazury Regional Development Agency.

Zawadzka, A.K. (2017). Making Small Towns Visible In Europe:The Case Of Cittaslow Network-The Strategy Based On Sustainable Development. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 13, 90–106 https://doi.org/10.24193/tras.SI2017.6

Zielinska-Szczepkowska, J., Jaszczak, A., & Zukovskis, J. (2021). Overcoming Socio-Economic Problems in Crisis Areas through Revitaliza-tion of Cittaslow Towns. Evidence from North-East Poland. Sustainability, 13, 7984 https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147984

Downloads

Published

30.11.2025

How to Cite

Jaszczak, A. (2025). From Philosophy to Practice: Città Slow and Green Space Planning in Small Urban Communities. Journal for Geography, 20(2), 37-50. https://doi.org/10.18690/rg.20.2.4963