Green trail
- Užice, Serbia
Green trail
A landscaped promenade stretches through the rocky gorge of river Djetinja, from Uzice beach to Staparska Spa. In 2016, the City of Uzice launched a project to renovate the first five kilometers of the old narrow-gauge railway from Uzice to Stapari, and members of the Jugocikling campaign, with the support of the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, arranged the route and declared it the first green track in Serbia.
Already in 2017, the European Association of Green Trails (European Greenways Award) awarded Uzice the award for this trail, the first of its kind in Serbia. The city was awarded the second prize in the category of Excellence, ie recognition for the arrangement and contents of the trail, but also for its accessibility, which was made possible by the installation of an elevator – a platform where pedestrians, mothers with small children, people with disabilities and cyclists can climb the reconstructed railway bridge on the Gradska Plaza and continue moving along the green path.
The promenade through one of the ecologically important areas within the Ecological Network of Serbia is an area adapted for recreational activities (hiking, cycling, trekking) and rest by the river. The ground floor arrangement and the installation of park furniture along the river, together with the arrangement of pedestrian paths around the tunnel of the old narrow-gauge railway, contributed to the stay in the gorge of Djetinja river being in harmony with nature.
- Location
- Užice, Serbia
- Gallery
CITY OF UŽICE
- Dimitrija Tucovića 52, Užice
- www.uzice.rs
- www.facebook.com/uzice/
- www.instagram.com/graduzice/
The European Green Trail Association is an association founded in 1998 in Namur (Belgium) with the aim of encouraging the creation and promotion of green trails in Europe. It brings together more than 50 different organizations from 16 European countries involved in the development of green paths. The European Green Trail Association was founded in 1998, focusing on: increasing the accessibility of old and less used infrastructure to the general public, especially people with reduced mobility; ease of passage, continuity and safety of routes; respect for the natural, cultural and historical environment of the area; and informing and educating users, especially young people.
Green paths are multifunctional paths for non-motorized users that are commonly connected to the green corridor, historical trade routes, rivers and railways. They are managed by the local population in order to promote sustainable development and healthy lifestyles. Green Trails provide a framework for local initiatives and projects related to the protection and improvement of nature, protection of cultural heritage, sustainable tourism and transport. Green paths are planned to meet the needs of both locals and visitors and to provide a positive contribution to the local economy.
Since 2003, every other year, the European Greenway Award has been awarded to green trails that stand out for their excellence and demonstration of best practice to support replication of best practice on green roads across Europe. Awards are given in two groups: awards for excellence and awards for exemplary initiatives.
In the “Excellence Awards” category, the first, second and third prizes are awarded for the best examples of green routes that represent the best integration of different characteristics. The success of these trails needs to be proven by their public popularity and visible impact on sustainable development based on environmentally friendly daily mobility, leisure and tourism.
In the category “Exemplary Initiatives”, the first, second and third prizes are awarded for special initiatives that have been implemented in connection with green routes. This category is open to all activities that are in the broadest sense related to green routes: design, construction, management, promotion, equipping, marking, highlighting other resources (cultural or natural heritage …), maintenance. The aim is to promote good practice and possible replication to any other European green path.