Most popular park in 2022 on the right bank of the Daugava – Vērmanes dārzs; in Pārdaugava – Uzvaras parks
Overall, residents have expressed satisfaction with the diversity and aesthetics of the capital's greenery maintained and cared for by the Rīgas meži "Gardens and Parks" division, according to the results of a survey conducted for Rīgas meži by the research centre SKDS. The company uses these results to improve its work in managing Riga's green spaces.
“It is gratifying that, on the whole, our work has been well-regarded. At the same time, we have also received suggestions, which we will take into account in our daily operations. However, the items within our parks are not solely our responsibility, which is why we collaborate with Riga City Council and other municipal departments, for instance, regarding lighting in parks or public toilets,” notes Aigars Pencis, Head of the Rīgas meži "Gardens and Parks" division.
Most popular parks
The most popular park in 2022 on the right bank of the Daugava was Vērmanes dārzs, visited by 75% of respondents, followed by Esplanāde (61%) and the canal-side greenery at Bastejkalns (51%).
Describing Vērmanes dārzs, residents indicated that what they liked most was the “diversity of fauna, the many benches, cosy paths, and the bandstand,” and that “this park is like a haven of peace in the middle of the city bustle.” Vērmanes dārzs is maintained by workers from the Rīdzene district of the "Gardens and Parks" division.
Meanwhile, on the left bank of the Daugava, the most visited site last year was Uzvaras parks, visited by 40% of respondents. Comments about Uzvaras parks in the survey included: “The most beautiful flower bed in Riga and the blooming cherry trees” and “a great variety of plants, blooming flowers, plenty of trees, meadows.” Uzvaras parks is cared for by specialists from the Pārdaugava district.
Also popular in Pārdaugava last year were Arkādijas parks (35%) and the greenery at Māras dīķis, which was visited by 28% of respondents.
“Many thanks for the excellent work and improvements. It is hard to suggest anything; people know their job and try to do it effectively. Well done,” is how one respondent assessed the work of the green space maintenance team.
Diversity and tidiness of greenery
68% of respondents are satisfied with the variety of trees and shrubs in the green spaces, as well as the well-maintained lawns; 61% praised the quantity of trees and shrubs. More than half are also satisfied with the diversity of flowering trees, shrubs, and flower beds.
From the perspective of infrastructure and orderliness, nearly 63% of respondents are satisfied with the tidiness of Riga's green spaces, 49% praised the cleanliness of the areas, 47% the lighting, and 45% the number of benches.
Almost 2/3 of those surveyed visit our green zones to walk in the fresh air, relax, observe the surroundings, or meet with friends.
Sustainability and naturalness of greenery
The survey included a block of questions on aspects important to Rīgas meži related to the sustainable management of territories, native species, and habitat diversity. 66% of respondents would like to see native Latvian wild plants in Riga’s green spaces, such as wood anemones ('Anemonoides nemorosa') and corydalis ('Corydalis'), while 46% would be pleased to see nectar plants, hollow trees, and rarely mown flowering meadows.
These answers show that the company’s approach to managing and developing the capital’s greenery is in line with residents' wishes. Specifically, when planning the development of parks and gardens, an increasing proportion of the greenery is comprised of more natural areas, including meadows, as well as perennial plants. Work is also underway to implement other sustainable solutions; for example, last autumn, Rīgas meži, in cooperation with Rīgas ūdens, created the first leaf-composting site, where leaves and other biodegradable mass collected from green areas are deposited, thereby saving funds on waste disposal while simultaneously providing material to enrich the soil in green spaces.
Seasonality of parks and obtaining information
Important aspects mentioned for the winter season in parks were: that they should be well-lit (79%) and that paths should be gritted with sand and crushed stone rather than salt (68%). Also important in winter is the availability of public toilets (58%), the clearing of paths to a width of 1.5 metres in accordance with Riga City Council regulations (58%), and festive decorations (54%). Admittedly, not all these areas are the responsibility of Rīgas meži, such as lighting and public toilets.
Last summer, the company invited the public for the first time to go and see the summer flower beds designed and tended by the specialists of the "Gardens and Parks" division. The survey results show that 26% of respondents did so. The company is planning a showcase of the most beautiful summer flower beds this year as well.
Traffic management, safety, and improvements
The survey included a section on satisfaction with traffic management and safety in the parks. More than half, or 52% of respondents, are satisfied with these matters, but 39% would like to see improvements. The most frequently cited positive aspects were parks where traffic and movement are separated so that users do not disturb one another, clear signs and markings, and the absence of car traffic. Conversely, the most common issues cited by unsatisfied respondents were cyclists, scooter riders, and other riders in the parks, the lack of separated traffic, and the opinion that there should be no traffic in the parks at all. For this reason, Rīgas meži began working with micromobility entrepreneurs back in 2021, for example, by implementing speed restrictions for rental e-scooters in parks. Collaboration with partners, including municipal organisations, is also ongoing in the areas of traffic and safety.
Overall, respondents evaluated the capital's green spaces quite positively. At the same time, desired improvements were also noted. For example, issues were raised regarding the need for increased availability of public toilets, improvements to paths, an increase in the number of benches, more greenery (more shrubs, trees, flowers), and waste and bin issues, including the fact that birds scatter the litter. Work is therefore being carried out in these directions too, for example, plans are in place to continue introducing improved waste bins, and the company continues to work with other municipal departments.
About the Rīgas meži “Gardens and Parks” division
The Rīgas meži “Gardens and Parks” division is responsible for nearly 800 hectares of Riga parks and the "Mežaparks" culture and leisure park. The division employs about 150 staff and consists of three districts: Neighbourhood (responsible for greenery in the Latgale and Vidzeme suburbs), Pārdaugava, and Rīdzene (responsible for central greenery), as well as a Technical Department.