Cascais Pilot Report

In 2024, Cascais launched its Urban ReLeaf pilot under the theme “A future-proof urban park – Thermal comfort perceptions on urban greenspaces in Cascais”. The pilot aimed to better understand how citizens perceive bioclimatic comfort in different urban parks and how this information can support local strategies for climate resilience and adaptation. The campaign successfully mobilised 1,500 citizens across four seasonal campaigns: spring (287), summer (552), autumn (229) and winter (432). Participants represented a broad demographic profile, with 60% women, 18% young people under 24, and 13% older adults above 65. Citizens were engaged through onsite signage, QR-code surveys, seasonal kickoff events, and outreach via schools, community associations, and Cascais Jovem. Vulnerable groups, including elderly residents and young people, were specifically targeted to ensure inclusiveness. Preliminary findings revealed notable contrasts across Cascais’ greenspaces. Quinta da Carreira Urban Park was consistently rated as the most comfortable environment, while Abóboda Urban Park and Bosque das Fontainhas presented the poorest conditions during summer, particularly regarding temperature, sun exposure, wind, and humidity. These results provide clear evidence for identifying “comfort hotspots” for citizens during heat events, as well as “discomfort hotspots” requiring targeted intervention in planning and investment. Beyond data collection, the pilot had tangible policy impacts. Results were directly used to inform the Green Spaces and Tree Protection Regulation and contributed to the good practice manual Renatura. Citizens expressed appreciation for having their perceptions considered in municipal decision-making, confirming the value of participatory citizen science approaches. The 2025 campaigns expanded on these achievements by combining perception data with objective environmental monitoring. TRH sensors (temperature and humidity) will be deployed across selected parks to generate complementary datasets, creating a robust evidence base for municipal planning. Seasonal campaigns will continue, supported by cultural and community activities to broaden participation, and youth recruitment will be reinforced through Cascais Jovem. Overall, the Cascais pilot demonstrates how citizen-powered data can inform local climate adaptation strategies, strengthen community resilience, and ensure that urban greening policies respond to both scientific evidence and lived experiences. The integration of these approaches into municipal frameworks illustrates the transformative potential of Urban ReLeaf for building inclusive, future-proof urban environments.