Place: Varde, Denmark
Timeframe: long term
Participants: Citizens, municipality.
Goal: co-creation of a commen place
WHAT IS IT?
Varde Sommerland is a municipally-owned area covering 12 hectares, located centrally in the town of Varde, along the Varde River (½ km from the Wadden Sea National Park and ½ km from the town center, Torvet). The area was previously an amusement park but closed in 2002. Afterwards, it remained unused and turned into a wilderness. In 2012, a citizen initiative organized a cleanup day, which eventually led to the formation of the Sommerlandslaug association. A collaboration agreement was developed with the municipality, where the area was, to some extent, “handed over” to the volunteers, who were given permanent responsibility for managing and realizing development initiatives in close cooperation with the municipality.
Why is it a succes?
Sommerlandslauget has many contacts with other associations and organizations that use the area for events. These include Syvkanten (theater), Parkrun Varde (started in Sommerlandslauget), and Varde Library.
Sommerlandslauget is an example of co-creation initiated by citizens. It meant that the citizens were involved in defining and shaping the project from the very beginning. This created a strong sense of ownership over the project and the park.
In 2018, an evaluation of the project was conducted. The evaluation showed that the co-creation contributed to a sense of belonging and empowerment among the citizens. Varde Sommerlandslaug also created a space for bonding social capital, where people from different social spheres could meet around a common cause. As one of the members noted in the evaluation:
“I often say that when we are all down here in our rubber boots and work clothes, it doesn’t matter if you know that one is a doctor, another is a politician, and another is a bank director. We are retirees… you don’t notice that; we are here because we all share the same passion for this project.”
The evaluation also highlighted examples showing that the regular community workdays provided a great opportunity for newcomers to meet and connect with their new neighbors.
The new community park sparked a variety of activities. One of the most successful was the idea to host a Halloween party for the entire town in the park. The first event took place in 2014 and drew 100 guests. Just four years later, attendance had grown to 1,200.
Today, in 2024, the Sommerlandslaug is still active.