ToNite – Journal n.4 – A final update on the project and its legacy in Turin

What has happened with ToNite since its end

Almost one year after the end of project activities, the public spaces regenerated by the ToNite project are regularly used by the residents, serving as opportunities for everyday engagement including cultural activities and social interactions. The pedestrian area of Viale Mai, which connects the Dora riverside to the city centre, is now a gathering point for local youth who use the furniture installed by ToNite (such as ping-pong tables, benches, and a social table) or attend the rich after-dark cultural programs organized by the neighbouring cultural hub Off Topic in collaboration with other active neighbourhood associations.

The transformation of this previously abandoned plot of land bordering the University Campus Luigi Einaudi into a pedestrian street also led to the activation of new partnerships with organizations not previously involved in the ToNite activities. Among these, the regeneration of Corso Farini, led by the association Torino Stratosferica, aligns with the actions carried out in the neighbouring Viale Mai, fostering the experimental reuse of other public spaces for cultural events and social gathering during evening and night-time hours.
 

Officially open to the public on 12th November 2023 with an inauguration ceremony, Giardino Pellegrino is another major hotspot of the urban regeneration process fostered by ToNite. The revival of this public garden, that is the only green public space available in the Aurora neighbourhood but abandoned for several years, involved not only the installation of new furniture and a playground for kids but also to the organization of cultural events and social activities for local families. This action, carried out in collaboration with the community foundation Porta Palazzo, ensures the right to public spaces for different types of users, and supports the collaborative management of the services and public spaces on a daily basis through a Pact of Collaboration between the local authority and the community foundation, composed by local residents, associations and informal groups. 
 

Most of the projects funded by the ToNite’s call for proposal directed to local associations for organizing cultural activities and services after dark continue their activities even after the project’s end, evolving their set of activities to meet the emerging needs of different categories of residents.

YallAurora, a Muslim youth association that turned a tailor’s shop into a space to promote youth activities, now runs an after-school club and organizes a summer programme of sports and cultural activities for local youth.

Il Salotto di Miranda replaced a boules court with a greenhouse in the central alley of a tree-lined boulevard of Aurora; the space is now a social gathering spot hosting community and cultural activities, while its lighting system improve residents’ perception of safety at night.

The non-profit organization Educadora continues its outreach education projects in the Aurora area, keeping the doors of the Neighbourhood House Cecchi Point open after dark for a series of sports activities and ateliers for local youth.

Giardini sulla Dora is now a permanent point of reference on the Dora riverside, with a community concierge keeping a green space adjacent to a primary school open during evening hours, offering cultural activities such as open-air theatre and dance classes, planned and organized in collaboration with the local community.   
 

The Urban Data Platform, developed within the framework of ToNite to monitor the perception of urban safety and liveability by integrating datasets from different urban dimensions (demography, services, safety and security, public spaces, mobility, etc.) is now fully integrated into the city servers and used for various purposes. Among these, the collaboration between the local police and the city department for educational services led to an experimental use of the platform to monitor school dropouts, while the department for EU projects uses the platform to monitor the impact of public resources allocated to different initiatives carried out by third-sector organizations (social projects, cultural activities, etc.) to improve funding schemes’ efficiency and foster connections among them.

The plan for long-term sustainability

The actions carried out by the ToNite project along the Dora riverside served as the starting point for an integrated programme of interventions covering various elements crucial for improving residents’ quality of life in the medium and long-term.

Turin is working not only on transforming public spaces and buildings, with major infrastructural projects such as the development of a new housing complex or the creation of new cycling paths along the riverside, but also on activating new proximity services and nature-based solutions. The resources from ToNite were combined with those from other major investments programs (REACT EU 2020-23, National Plan for Quality Housing-PINQUA 2022-26 and Integrated Urban Plans-PIU 2022-26, all funded by the Next Generation EU for a total investment of 30 million euros) to enhance the creation of connections between urban regeneration actions and social innovation and civic engagement projects.

The projects funded within this integrated strategy will be completed by 2026 and will have a tangible impact on enhancing the long-term sustainability of what ToNite initiated, improving local community cohesion and the quality of public spaces in the neighbourhoods along the Dora River. 

The intervention logic tested with the ToNite project also lays at the basis of the new public funding programme ImpatTo, launched by the City of Turin with resources from the National Operational Programme for Metropolitan Cities PON Metro PLUS 2021-2027 at the end of May 2024. Open until 4th October 2024, the call for proposals will grant financial contributions to associations and third sector organizations that cooperate to create new community spaces and services. While this grant scheme is not limited to evening and nocturnal activities and also funds projects in other peripheral areas of the city, many associations that participated in the ToNite call for proposal have shown interest in participating in the public call to consolidate or extend projects and activities that had a positive impact on facilitating the access of different groups of residents to public services as well to social and cultural activities. Turin aims to foster the creation of new community spaces that envisage the activation of proximity services located in physical spaces (e.g. kiosks, ground floors, etc.) whose activities take place primarily on public space and are able to effectively intercept the social, cultural and educational needs of residents, with the ultimate goal to improve urban security and liveability.

The activation of Pacts of collaboration with several NGOs and associations active in the projects funded by ToNite (such as Giardino Pellegrino, YallAurora, Salotto di Miranda and Giardini sulla Dora mentioned above) is another element contributing to the long-term sustainability of activities carried out within the framework of ToNite. The regulatory tool for the collaborative management of public spaces, tested with the previous UIA project Co-City, facilitated the establishment of three-year pacts between the local authority and associations conducting evening and nocturnal activities, revitalizing public spaces and encouraging residents to actively participate in improving the Aurora and Vanchiglia neighbourhoods along the Dora River.

Lessons learned

The ToNite approach demonstrated that the quality of life in an area is closely related to the perception of safety among its inhabitants. A neighbourhood is perceived as safe when it is abundant with public spaces which contribute to social cohesion and are vivified by an active local community capable of addressing social conflicts, fostering dynamics of solidarity, and more in general, promoting a stronger sense of place for everyone.

Through the ToNite project, the local authority learned the importance of combining actions of regeneration of public space to the creation of proximity services in order to improve the perception of safety. The active involvement of the local community in redesigning public spaces and green areas in the project’s target areas was crucial for incorporating community needs into the plans and encouraging wider use of these spaces by different user groups around the clock. Collaborative workshops and the ethnographic study conducted in the first phase of ToNite were essential not only for gathering residents’ needs but also for creating shared awareness of the untapped potential of neighbourhoods previously considered unsafe (Aurora) or too noisy (Vanchiglia) after dark. The co-design phase of interventions on public spaces and the activation of new evening and nocturnal services also provided significant opportunities for creating links among associations, social enterprises, third sector representatives and residents groups active in the same area but not used to cooperating in the framework of a participatory process, or even in creating shared action proposals.

Maintaining strong coordination by the local authority to connect the elements that emerged from the neighbourhood-level participatory process to broader forms of integrated planning was another significant lesson learned by Turin. Defining a comprehensive strategy of intervention for reviving the northern axis of the Dora riverside resulted not only from strong political leadership for efficient use of European resources but from enhanced coordination among city departments involved in the multisectoral working group of the ToNite project (departments of EU funds and innovation; urban regeneration and management of the commons; urban mobility; infrastructures; environment and public parks; 7th District of Turin).

Collaboration among different city departments was also fundamental for promoting a shared approach to urban security, viewing it not only as a matter of public order but as a common good to be managed through innovative forms of coordination between local police, city departments, districts and civic actors. Active community engagement was essential for developing an integrated and participatory approach to public space regeneration, leading to the realization of new urban functions that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also useful for public enjoyment. The debate over the installation of new furniture and benches along the Dora riverside, for instance, led to innovative design solutions included within a broader reflection on the role played by the public space in safety perception. Even though the procurement process of the solutions co-designed by the local authority together with the local stakeholders was not always smooth due to the pandemic-related shortage of raw materials.  The comprehensive project for regenerating the areas along the Dora riverside was well-received by the residents, who regained ownership of the public space along with the activation of new community services and initiatives.

Involving migrant communities in civic engagement processes through storytelling tools to include their needs and safety perceptions at the neighbourhood level was another important lesson learned that emerged from ToNite. Activities organized by local associations and third-sector actors, such as Chinese calligraphy workshops for kids and families or ethnic food tastings, helped reinforce community spirit and encourage active participation from various population groups (youth, families, elderly persons) in ToNite activities, aided by multilingual communication tools such as the Tellingstones app. 

Promoting collaboration with the so-called “unusual suspects”, stakeholders typically not involved in urban security participatory processes, was key to develop an innovative approach to safety based on community inclusion rather than repressive measures. This approach was particularly beneficial in scouting potential stakeholders to be involved and in listening to community needs, but also in fostering collaboration with institutions like the University of Turin which, thanks to ToNite, decided to improve the provision of services after dark, keeping its study rooms also in nocturnal hours. 

One of the most significant lessons learned by Turin through the UIA project was the collaborative creation of a monitoring system to assess the impact of the activities funded by ToNite, especially the Call for Proposals. Unlike previous projects, where monitoring and evaluation of projects carried out by local associations and third sectors organizations were ineffective in measuring the tangible impact created in the areas targeted by the action, the system developed with ToNite marked a paradigm shift by tracking every step undertaken by funding beneficiaries and supporting them in resolving implementation issues. Continuous dialogue between the local authority and the Aurora and Vanchiglia stakeholders involved in the projects funded by the ToNite’s Call for Proposals was precious for guiding them towards the impact desired but also for understanding how these organizations work and the challenges they face in this kind of projects. This experience was crucial also for proposing similar intervention logic in other public calls for cultural projects and promoting the use of public space to enhance urban security through community activation as a mainstream principle across various intervention areas and neighbourhoods in the city. 

Some recommendations to other urban authorities

Investing in the untapped potential of the areas targeted by the innovative actions, as Turin did with the Aurora and Vanchiglia neighbourhoods, is a useful strategy to other urban authorities looking to implement a similar approach. Conducting a scouting process for civic stakeholders, resident groups, and associations is essential for collaborative planning, making projects truly beneficial and effective in addressing residents’ main challenges, particularly in sensitive areas like urban security.

The implementation of infrastructural interventions, such as improving lighting systems or installing sensors to monitor public space use and residents’ perception, can be important but is not sufficient on its own to create change. Activating innovative social, cultural and economic dynamics through fostering active collaboration among stakeholders and with the local authority is crucial for achieving tangible improvements in safety perception after dark.

The development of an integrated approach is also useful for combining different approaches and strategies to urban security. Promoting collaboration among different departments is vital and must be paired with a strong leadership within the local authority in order to foster organizational change. Addressing these arrangements within the municipal government is important for harmonizing policies that directly impact the night-time economy and urban security. ToNite was a valuable opportunity to enhance the local authority’s working group on nightlife (Tavolo Movida), promoting a participatory approach to night-time urban security based on the dialogue with diverse actors rather than solely enforcing restrictive regulations on public space use or addressing noise pollution. 

Furthermore, focusing on replicability and adaptation of innovative and participatory urban security approaches is important for the cities aiming to replicate the actions carried out within the framework of ToNite, in order to promote the creation of networks with other cities and fostering a stronger impact at regional, national and European level. During the project, Turin presented key elements of the ToNite’s approach in several seminars dedicated to replicability with the participation of several Italian and European local authorities. This action was useful not only for promoting project results and establishing connection with cities interested in similar approaches, but it was important also for defining a model that is at the core of the URBACT Innovation Transfer Network project 2Nite, approved at the end of June 2024. The network will promote the replication of ToNite in other urban contexts (Riga, Cluj Napoca, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Quadrilatero Urbano association) using the URBACT methodology.   

ToNite stands out as one of the first projects funded by the European Union focused on night policies, advocating for collaborative approach to urban security at night. The project offered an alternative to traditional measures based on territorial control and repression. By targeting areas such as Aurora and Vanchiglia, which face typical challenges experienced after dark, the city of Turin harnessed the power of the local community to create new services through the collaborative regeneration of public spaces.

Although measuring the exact improvement in residents’ sense of safety due to ToNite activities may be challenging, the UIA project was fundamental in reinforcing community spirit and recognizing the role played by civic groups and third-sector organizations in reviving previously abandoned or unsafe public spaces. ToNite also enhanced collaboration mechanisms between the local authority and associations, establishing a new approach now adopted also in other local initiatives to regenerate suburban areas of the city.

The UIA project engaged diverse groups (migrant communities, families, elderly persons) in activities and projects taking place after dark, extending the right to the city at night to categories of residents not usually targeted by night policies. Organizing events and social gatherings in public parks or streets regenerated by ToNite was crucial for the social growth of the local community, widening the access to public and cultural services by different categories of residents and reimagining the city after dark as a space of opportunity rather than as a dangerous dimension.

The regeneration of Viale Mai and Giardino Pellegrino is the most tangible legacy of the ToNite project, not just for the impact on surrounding areas or for the creation of new 24/7 meeting points, but for fostering communities of users, groups and associations. These spaces are now viewed as platforms for activities that improve the quality of life for residents and city users, including the student community of the University campus. Reimagining the role of spaces and structures in the areas targeted by ToNite, strengthened by significant investments from various EU and national programs, is crucial for reshaping public perception. The decentralization of night-time activities to this area of Turin is seen as a positive element as it creates new hotspots for community engagement and promotes a socially and culturally inclusive nightlife.

Another significant legacy of ToNite is the contribution to defining a stronger coordination framework among different urban policies, private and community projects and resident needs within the Night Management Plan launched by the city of Turin in May 2023. The ToNite project significantly influenced the creation of this thematic policy, one of the first in Italy aligning with similar night policies adopted by major cities at European and global level. This policy includes the delocalization of the night-time activities to various city areas to reduce conflicts over noise pollution. Principles and methodologies tested by ToNite, such as the use of public spaces for the organization of cultural and artistic activities at night, are officially included in the plan approved by the city government.

Coordination among different departments for a holistic view on urban security, based on dialogue and collaboration with the local community rather than on enforcing restrictive measures, is another legacy that is contributing to improve how public authorities address the topic and how innovative technological tools, such as the Urban Data Platform developed by ToNite, can be used for improving planning and implementation of policies having a direct impact on the night-time dimension.