New Playgrounds and Picnic Areas Strengthen Community Bonds and Improve Quality of Life

As part of the project "Strengthening the Role of Local Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina", jointly funded by the Government of Switzerland and Sweden, and implemented by UNDP in BiH, new playgrounds and picnic areas have been built and renovated in several local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating spaces for play, socializing, and community development.

Gradačac, Brčko, Trnovo, Nevesinje, Višegrad, and Vitez are just some of the towns where, thanks to the active participation of citizens through local community forums, these projects have been successfully implemented.

In Zavidovići, the new playground in the Local Community of Rujnica has become a new gathering place for young people and adults alike. "After citizens identified key priorities, the playground was chosen as the top need. Today, children enjoy the new facilities every day, and benches and a canopy have also been added," said Haris Hodžić from the Rujnica Local Community. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Zenica-Doboj Canton and the Municipality of Zavidovići.

In Gradačac, citizens from the Kerep and Varoš local communities decided through forums to build a children’s playground and a tennis court. The court was later handed over to the public company "Parkinzi" for management and is now used for tennis school activities, supported by the City Administration.

In Višegrad, the newly built playground has sparked a wave of civic activism. "Citizens have realized that through their engagement, they can bring about positive change," said Jelena Savović from the Municipality of Višegrad.

In Brčko, the development of a picnic area on Mount Majevica brought together residents of five local communities and members of the Mountaineering Society "Njivce". Along with the construction of a mountain lodge, a children's playground was built and a map of hiking trails was created.

In the Local Community of Misurići in Maglaj, a multifunctional sports court and children's playground were built, alongside the renovation of the community center and the installation of new infrastructure.

Through the "Strengthening the Role of Local Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina" project, 34 infrastructure projects focusing on the construction and renovation of children's playgrounds have been implemented, with a total value exceeding BAM 1.2 million, benefiting nearly 30,000 residents.

UNDP in BiH has provided support to local communities in strengthening citizen participation, planning development priorities, and creating safe and functional public spaces.