Background

The citizens of Silistra called the Danube Park the green heart of the city. Since its opening in 1870, the park had been a symbol of the citizens` pursuit of progress and protection of the city environment. The park, which had been a favorite recreation spot for more than a hundred years, was currently neglected and ill kept. The success of the Danube Park 2000 project implemented by the Bulgarian Women s Association Silistra and financed by the US Agency for International Development through the Foundation for Local Government Reform, attracted other local non-governmental organizations to the cause. Local authorities supported their efforts. Some sites in the park were restored as part of the Beautiful Silistra project.

Developing a concept for restoration and development of the park was one of the priorities of the cooperation between Silistra and Kettering, Ohio, USA on the Technical Twinning Program impelmented by FLGR and USAID. The non-governmental organizations participated in concept development both with ideas and practical activities. The culmination of the joint work of municipal officials and citizens from Silistra and Kettering was the public discussion of the Danube Park future.

Practice

Three years ago, the Danube Park was uncultivated and unhospitable. Restored as part of the Danube Park 2000 project, two children s playgrounds and two alcoves became once again attractive recreation spots and encouraged citizens for further cultivation of the park. Students of the Mathematics and Nature Sciences High School and Otets Paisij School took part in cleaning the rock garden and planting new species. That was an obvious sign that the young people of the city are willing to take active participation in the maintenance of the park. The beginning was set.

The municipal adminsitration included reconstruction of several beauty spots in the park in the Beautiful Silistra project. Specialists from the municipalities of Silistra and Kettering formed a joint team which worked out a concept for the future development of the park and executed several projects for park zones according to the citizens` vision.

The project team conducted a survey among the citizens of the Municipality of Silistra, regarding some new public utilities in the park. The information gathered became the base for building approaches to the river, a skateboard ground, and a recreation site the Municipality of Kettering corner.

A fundraising campaign held both in Silistra and Kettering financed the building of the skateboard ground. In this way the citizens of the US city also participated in the Danube Park cultivation. A plague of the donors was placed in the Alley of the Donors, which is the new local fundraising project.

On 10 May 2002 about 50 citizens responded to the invitation for participation in the public discussion of the Concept for restoration and development of the Danube Park Among the participants were members of parliament, representatives of the regional administration and municipal councilors. Shared opinions and desire for further work proved that the park is not only a symbol of Silistrians` pride of their culture and historical heritage, but it also unites and inspires them for positive social changes. The new sites were promoted at a garden party organized on the same day. The joy and satisfaction expressed on participants` faces clearly showed that the future of the Danube Park is in safe hands.

Results
In 1999, at the age of 130, the Danube Park in Silistra was totally deserted. Today Silistra citizens enjoy walking and practicing different sports along its beautiful alleys. A joint team of citizens and experts of the Municipalities of Silistra and Kettering have worked on a concept for development of the Danube Park.

The financial support of the US Agency for International Development, Beautiful Bulgaria project, and the citizens of Silistra and Kettering made it possible for the following sites to be built: skateboard ground, children s playground, approach to the river, Kettering corner, and Alley of Donors.