while providing social benefits to the population. corridors would also offer the opportunity to rejuvenate and adapt the most popular public parks. Moreover, increasing the The Barcelona Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plannumber of green spaces will enhance the city’s biodiversity and (BGIB) states that green infrastructure covers 35.3 percent ofimprove its ratio of people to parks. land in the city (BGIB, 2015). The city has 310,800 trees, and the City Council is working on an extended plan aiming to preserve,3.1.2 Involvement and participation programs for citizens build, and enhance green spaces in the town (BGIB, 2015). Participation programs linked to Barcelona’s parks and gardens are emerging in the city. The City Council is working with local The Street Trees Management Plan, part of the Barcelonaassociations and institutions to set up programs that focus on Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plan, aims to promotegreen infrastructure and health. green spaces within Barcelona’s smart city programs. For instance, the City Council is hoping to increase tree coverageIn 2020, the city’s websites for its parks and gardens recorded by 5 percent by 2037, raising the total area covered by trees tomore than 350,000 hits (BGIB, 2020). In addition, an educational 30 percent (BGIB, 2015). The promotion of green infrastructureprogram that encourages school visits to parks and aims to for Barcelona within the BGIB represents a pivotal opportunitycreate awareness among children regarding the importance of to develop the economic sector sustainably: the total surfacenature and biodiversity has been established (BGIB, 2015, 2020). area of flat roofs amounts to 150 soccer fields. The City Council encourages residents to be involved in decision making over parks. Citizens have been offered the chance to Therefore, vertical gardens, rooftop gardens, and living wallsparticipate in the design of green spaces, identify the need for represent a business opportunity that startups are seizing—fornew parks within their districts, and implement the project. example, Huertos in the Sky, a firm specializing in implementing allotment roofs for urban farming. Barcelona City Council is3.2 Cultural activities promoting this development by facilitating legal processes and providing subsidies for such projects. Barcelona is well known for its cultural heritage, including its collection of buildings and spaces designed by Gaudí, such as 3.1.1 Connectivity of green spaces the Sagrada Familia and the Park Güell. Besides the presence The connectivity of green infrastructure and the renaturalizationof works by outstanding Spanish and Catalan artists such as of the city are priority components within the development of thePicasso and Dalí, modern culture abounds in the city. The BGIB plan, because they have the potential to promote greenMACBA center and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de spaces and walkable green corridors while also increasing theBarcelona, for example, offer packed programs of events and presence of nature in urban areas (that is, mostly in the centersfestivals, making them attractive to visitors all year round. of busy inner neighborhoods such as Gràcia). The City Council isOverall, Barcelona’s museums have decisively embraced digital developing a set of green corridors that link the city’s main parksinitiatives such as offering virtual tours and running contests while providing abundant greenery in their own right. Pedestrianson their social media pages.11 and cyclists are to be given priority in these corridors. 3.2.1 Cultural participation and needs in Barcelona In Barcelona, public parks are used intensively. Some areThe Institute of Culture of Barcelona has conducted a survey on hyperfrequented (that is, sometimes social conflicts breakcultural participation and needs within the city. This pioneering out over use of them): more than 1,500 activities take place insurvey provided insightful information that allowed the City Barcelona’s parks every year. Many sports programs are held atCouncil to adapt its cultural offering to residents’ and tourists’ nine hundred facilities for outdoor sport across the city (BGIB,actual needs. In addition, the council’s initiatives go beyond 2015). Green corridors connecting the city’s parks would reduceclassical methods of cultural consumption and involve priorities the volume of vehicles on the city’s streets, because they wouldsuch as increasing citizens’ participation in events and tailoring encourage people to walk between parks. Developing greenevents to suit the cultural interests of young people (Ajuntament (11) For example: • El Born Cultural and Memory Center in Barcelona has created a website and will be offering activities on social media; • The History Archive is setting up a trivia competition; • Montjuic Castle is running a contest on its Facebook page; • The Picasso Museum is offering virtual tours and competition activities; • La Capella is also offering a virtual guided tour; • The Archaeology Service will offer 3D reconstruction options. 95 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021