Purpose: Urban space creation for intercultural mixing (as a result of international cooperation)
Stimulus/Rationale:
Odesa joined the ICC-Ukraine network in 2017 but its policies have been always interculturally oriented in a sense that the city administration has always aimed to create comfortable conditions for all residents regardless their origins, and be attentive to and support their initiatives.
Process:
A good example of this is the joint establishment of two city parks – Greek and Turkish – in downtown Odesa, as a result of close cooperation between the Odesa and the two countries. The City Mayor strengthened relations with the Turkish and Greek governments, giving each of them the opportunity to build a national themed park, and uniting them symbolically around the Potemkin Stairs – a historic monument in the city.
Bringing together two different cultures in a harmonious public setting despite incongruities in their histories is an example of how Odesa sees the world and its role in it as an intercultural city.
Istanbul Park opened in 2017 (the first part of the Turkish-Greek project). The Greek Park was inaugurated in 2018.
The project involved a partnership between the City Hall of Odesa, the Turkish and Greek governments and business organisations.
