Waterbuffer Cromvlietpark
8 July 2022
Cromvlietpark was due for renewal; it was a long area with asphalt, fences and wide sidewalks. At the moment it is impossible to imagine what the park used to look like. The municipality of The Hague has collaborated with its residents, entrepreneurs and the Laak Coalition to create the Wijkpark Cromvliet. This new, sustainable park includes:
- 2.000 m2 of extra greenery, to protect (among other things) against heat stress
- Space for schools and associations to organize activities
- Stage
- Football cage
- Playgrounds
- Vegetable gardens
- Preserved petting zoo and tearoom. Two social workplaces are also linked to this
- Urban Water Buffer (UWB).
The Urban Waterbuffer is very special. Due to climate change we are faced more frequently with huge downpours or extreme heat with long periods of drought. The UWB is a large container and works as an underground water storage for the collection of rainwater and surface water. In addition, roofs of surrounding buildings have been disconnected from the sewer and connected to the UWB. All this water flows to the central collection point of the UWB and then passes through a bio-filter of special plants and layers of sand. Then it is stored. In the event of drought, the water is pumped up to water the trees, the vegetable garden and the petting zoo.
The other facilities in the Cromvlietpark, besides the UWB, also contribute to various SDGs: the neighborhood vegetable gardens and the water supply contribute to food security and sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), facilities for sports, recreation and meeting (SDG 3), playgrounds and a petting zoo for education (SDG 4), ensures social cohesion and inclusive public space (SDG 10), makes the city inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11), is an active solution to climate change (SDG 13) and finally, it contributes to SDG 17 through the regional approach.
In collaboration with Delfland’s Hoogheemraadschap and the drinking water company Dunea, the municipality is gaining knowledge about making the city climate-proof and guaranteeing the freshwater supply in the long term.
For more information, go to the following websites (Dutch only)
Photographer: Valerie Kuypers
