A greener, healthier Castelfranco Veneto: measuring our impact

As part of VARCITIES, each Pilot implemented a portfolio of Visionary Solutions aimed at transforming public spaces into healthier, greener, and more inclusive environments. Through co-creation with local communities and the integration of digital, social, and nature-based innovations, the pilots addressed specific urban challenges related to accessibility, well-being, and sustainability. To understand the effectiveness of these interventions, a comprehensive set of indicators (Key Performance Indicators or KPI) was monitored throughout the project.

The data collected offers valuable insights into the local impact of the solutions implemented, helping to inform future urban development strategies both within and beyond our Pilot.

This is our impact in Castelfranco Veneto!

Road surface dedicated to pedestrians  

Before VARCITIES, the road surface dedicated to pedestrians was 0%. After the renovation of access routes and internal paths as part of the Pilot activites, the share of pedestrian areas increased to 72%.

KPI 6.7- Road surface dedicated to pedestrians

These improvements significantly enhanced accessibility for the garden’s target users (including visitors, elderly people, and individuals with special mobility needs). A new access road to the Villa was introduced, and the internal paths of the garden were upgraded to ensure a direct, safe, and comfortable visit to the historic Villa Bolasco garden, our pilot site in Castelfranco Veneto!

The access routes to the garden are now bike and pedestrian friendly

Perceptions of Urban Nature and Social Value of Ecosystems

Three focus groups and workshops were organized by the Pilot leaders and experts to explore perceptions of urban nature and the social value of urban ecosystems and biodiversity in Castelfranco. Participants included a diverse range of individuals, from informal and professional caregivers to both fragile and non-fragile users of Villa Bolasco.

During these sessions, attendees shared their perspectives on opportunities to enhance awareness around the importance of regenerating and improving urban public spaces. A key takeaway was the importance of communicating research findings in a clear and accessible manner, while involving local stakeholders from the earliest stages of the project.

Participants also emphasized the need to expand actions beyond Villa Bolasco, advocating for a broader, systemic approach that includes other green spaces across the city.

Additional proposals included the creation of immersive experiences and workshops for children, the direct involvement of schools—including at the secondary level—and encouraging young people to actively participate in research activities to raise their awareness of urban nature.

Finally, the discussions highlighted the pivotal role of local associations as multipliers. Their engagement through training and informational meetings was recommended as a way to replicate the model in other settings.

Positive Shifts in Health and Well-Being

Three separate studies contribute to a broader understanding of the garden users’ health and wellbeing across emotional, psychological, social, and physical dimensions.

Emotional Impact of Nature Exposure

A study comparing positive and negative emotions before and after a walk in the garden revealed that all three participants experienced an increase in positive emotions. Participant 1’s score rose from 10 to 11, Participant 2 from 9 to 14, and Participant 3 from 8 to 15. While Participant 3 also saw a decrease in negative emotions, Participants 1 and 2 showed a slight increase in negative feelings, suggesting a more complex emotional response to the intervention.

KPI 9.6 – Perceived well-being before and after the visit of green space

Quality of Life Assessment

A Quality of Life Questionnaire measured four domains: environment (29), social relationships (11), psychological health (22), and physical health (26), with a combined total score of 88. This is slightly below the average benchmark score of 90 observed in healthy populations, indicating relatively good but potentially improvable wellbeing among the participants.

KPI 9.8 Feeling of improved quality of life

Loneliness Levels

Using the Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (range: 20–80), all participants scored between 20 and 30, indicating a low degree of loneliness. This suggests strong social connectivity and limited subjective feelings of isolation among those surveyed.

KPI 9.8 Feeling of improved quality of life

Together, these findings highlight generally positive indicators of wellbeing, with nature exposure, quality of life, and social connectedness playing key roles in participants’ overall health!

The Castelfranco Veneto pilot demonstrates how physical transformation, social participation, and targeted monitoring can work together to enhance the quality and inclusivity of urban life. By linking infrastructural changes with shifts in perception and well-being, the cocreation process of six Visionary Solutions served as catalysts for systemic change in our Pilot, in line with key principles of the New Urban Agenda: the democratization of public space, the power of co-creation, and the value of data in understanding, and amplifying, the positive ripple effects of nature-based innovation!