On Monday, 7 April 2025, the participatory event “How Can Urban Streams Contribute to the Climate Resilience of Thessaloniki’s Neighbourhoods?” was held at the Municipality of Thessaloniki. The event was organised with the support of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, and brought together public authorities, academic experts, civil society organisations and residents.

The event aimed to explore how urban streams and green corridors can function as nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, and how placemaking and citizen participation can support their sustainable activation as shared neighbourhood spaces.

Urban streams as placemaking infrastructures for climate mitigation

The discussion began by reframing urban streams not only as technical flood-control systems, but as multi-functional placemaking infrastructures that contribute to climate mitigation. When integrated into green corridor strategies, streams support urban cooling, microclimate regulation, carbon sequestration through vegetation, biodiversity enhancement, and reduced surface runoff, while also creating accessible public spaces for everyday use.

The concept of green and blue corridors was presented as an integrated strategy linking climate mitigation with social life in the city. Examples from Utrecht, where a former canal was reintegrated into the urban fabric, and Edessa, where a stream has been successfully activated as a public space, illustrated how ecological restoration combined with placemaking can generate long-term environmental and social value. At the same time, participants critically reflected on the risks of overly “hard” or concrete-based interventions, as well as on the potential for touristification and gentrification, underlining the importance of climate-oriented placemaking that protects both ecosystems and local communities.

Ecological systems, climate mitigation, and everyday urban life

In his contribution, Dr. Giorgos Blionis (Biologist – Ecologist) highlighted Thessaloniki’s long-standing relationship with water systems and the progressive marginalisation of natural ecosystems within the city. He stressed that while flood protection remains the primary management objective, climate change requires a broader approach that also strengthens urban cooling, ecological continuity, and environmental awareness.

Urban streams, when disconnected from everyday life, remain vulnerable and undervalued. Reintegrating them through place-based interventions, educational activities, and low-impact design can support climate mitigation goals while fostering a sense of stewardship. Importantly, he noted a growing shift in public perception: streams are increasingly seen not as obstacles or risks, but as shared natural assets with climate and social value.

Citizen initiatives and placemaking practices

Thodoris Istoriou (Spatial Planner, MSc, PhD Candidate at AUTH) presented an overview of citizen initiatives related to Thessaloniki’s streams. Existing actions, such as clean-ups, walks, educational and cultural activities, already contribute to climate awareness and environmental care, yet they remain largely focused on visibility and sensitisation.

A key challenge identified is the absence of a formal framework that allows citizens to move from awareness to placemaking. While communities engage “for” and “within” streams, there is currently no institutional support for small-scale, community-led interventions that could enhance shading, accessibility, or ecological restoration, key elements for climate mitigation at the neighbourhood level.

The recurring question “Who do urban streams belong to?” reflects both legal uncertainty and a lack of collective ownership. Addressing this gap is essential for embedding placemaking as a long-term climate strategy rather than as a series of isolated actions.

Governance, participation, and climate-oriented placemaking

The panel discussion focused on existing governance frameworks and their capacity to support participatory climate action. Representatives from regional and municipal authorities clarified that responsibility for urban stream and flood protection lies primarily with the Region of Central Macedonia, while other bodies play complementary roles.

Panelists acknowledged that fragmented responsibilities and unclear boundaries limit both institutional coordination and citizen involvement. Many streams are not formally delineated, making it difficult to define where and how placemaking interventions could take place. At the same time, participants stressed that climate change is rendering older flood management approaches insufficient, reinforcing the need for integrated, nature-based solutions.

While collaboration with registered civil protection volunteers exists, structured placemaking partnerships with local communities remain largely absent. Several speakers emphasised the importance of viewing streams as extensions of neighbourhood life, spaces that people care for because they use and identify with them.

Key insights and next steps

The event highlighted that placemaking can act as a bridge between climate mitigation, institutional governance, and everyday urban life. Urban streams should be treated as socio-ecological infrastructures, where flood protection, climate mitigation, biodiversity, and social use are addressed together.

Key insights include:

• Climate mitigation benefits increase when streams are activated as green corridors and public spaces.
• Placemaking fosters ownership, stewardship, and long-term care, strengthening climate resilience at the neighbourhood scale.
• Clear governance frameworks and co-management models are needed to enable citizen-led, low-impact interventions.

Reintegrating urban streams into Thessaloniki’s neighbourhoods through participatory placemaking can transform them from neglected infrastructures into living climate assets, cooling the city, strengthening ecosystems, and empowering communities to co-create a more resilient urban future.