The Memorial Park, “October in Kragujevac,” in addition to its memorial and symbolic value, is one of the largest memorial and landscape-designed city parks in Southeastern Europe. Methods of management, maintenance, landscaping, artistic design, construction, and space use by residents have changed over time. This research employs both quantitative and qualitative methods. Critical analysis of primary sources, mainly urban planning documents, is used to understand changes in management models and maintenance patterns. A survey was also conducted via a mobile application (Viber group: “City and Me KG”) among residents to assess their willingness to participate in managing and maintaining the space, as well as attitudes toward program content planned for specific areas. The first part outlines the urban development timeline of the Memorial Park and presents various models of management, maintenance, and use that arose due to historical events, government, and social systems. The park’s evolution relative to the city’s growth is depicted, showing its transition from peripheral space to the central urban park. The second part explores citizens’ interest in urban management and participatory design, along with attitudes toward possible changes to existing features and adding new elements for daily use, without compromising heritage, symbolism, or respect for victims. The survey also examines recognition of the park’s ecological microclimate and ecosystem functions within the city. The results suggest the potential for a new management strategy and creation of open urban spaces—landscape-designed memorial parks that meet community needs within cultural and ecological systems.

The development of mega-events as a means of connecting the city to the world has led to the emergence of sports mega-events in the programmatic aspect, while the spatial consequences for the city result in intense and massive transformations of urban zones. These transformations involve the development of urban areas, generated by various internal and external influences. The term "mega-event" encompasses a broad range of events, and in the context of this paper, it examines the phenomenon of large-scale sports events of an international and temporary nature, which, due to their dimensions, require significant infrastructure modifications and the construction of new spatial structures, often on the city's periphery. Temporary redefinition of the peripheral landscape leads to the rapid development of this territory, ephemeral transitions, and induced centralization, or ad hoc transformation of the liminal territory into a built megastructure that meets the short-term needs of the planned mega-event. The clash between artificial urban structures and the natural periphery creates a collision of two systems that must coexist, potentially threatening the integrity of the periphery, which, despite its lower level of urbanization, remains an integral part of the city's ecosystem. In this context, the question arises: What are the consequences of structures built for mega-events after their intended use? How are the impacts of these transformations articulated concerning the security system of the territory in terms of sustainability, economic impact, and physical safety? The focus of this paper is on examining the resilience of the periphery and identifying the dangers of ephemeral transitions. The aim of the research is to establish a link between the periphery and the urban phenomenon of ephemeral transitions. In this research relevant examples of projects carried out in the peripheral contexts of cities for the purpose of mega-events are analysed, observing various planning approaches for such projects, including temporary pavilion structures, reusable infrastructure networks, or typological transformations of built spaces. The paper examines the integration of selected examples into the existing context, their contribution to the long-term development of that context, and the aspect of safety of the structures that continue to play a role in the area's life after their singular purpose.

The chapter examines the regeneration of urban riverfronts, highlighting their growing recognition as vital public spaces with significant ecological, social, and economic implications. Historically, riverfronts serving as ports in Europe transitioned from industrial zones to areas of urban renewal and cultural engagement, reflecting shifts towards sustainable development principles. Successful projects such as HafenCity in Hamburg and Tampere highlight the importance of diversity, public participation, and environmental sustainability. Conversely, controversial projects such as Zagreb’s Manhattan and Belgrade’s Waterfront (BW), which is the case study, reveal challenges like a lack of transparency, public exclusion, and prioritization of profit over community needs. Analysis of public perception surveys from 2018 and 2024 reveals growing engagement and approval for riverfront development in Belgrade, where the BW project increased usage and acceptance. The lessons learned emphasize the necessity of inclusive planning, transparency, and balancing private interests with public and environmental concerns. The case of Belgrade underscores systemic issues of governance, activism, and media influence. Overall, sustainable and participatory approaches are crucial for future riverfront development, ensuring these spaces serve diverse communities, respect historical legacies, and foster ecological resilience. The insights advocate for collaborative, transparent, and mixed-use strategies aligned with social and environmental sustainability.

In this paper, we will present the results of a project financed by the European Union - Interreg projects DANUrB and DANUrB+ (Danube Urban Brand). These projects included seven European countries including Serbia, with the basic idea of encouraging the development of cities along the Danube region by empowering sustainable tourism based on cultural and natural heritage and cross-border collaboration. The focus of the projects was on small and medium-sized cities on the Danube, which are actively facing and struggling with the problem of constant urban shrinkage, despite the natural and built potentials. On the territory of Serbia, cooperation was realized with Golubac, Sombor, Smederevo, and Bačka Palanka. The presented results of the project are divided into three categories: (01) Networking and cooperation with local governments and stakeholders; (02) Digitization and use of ICT to affirm the value of tangible and intangible heritage and (03) Education and cooperation with students. These results include the formation of a unique digital platform for stakeholders, as well as mobile applications for tourists, and the creation of a digital and analog Atlas. Also, active networking through workshops and meetings with local municipalities, providing expert assistance in the field of architecture and urbanism, as well as the affirmation of local heritage and open public spaces through the development of the "Danube Pavilion" in Golupac and the mural with a thematic representation of intangible local heritage in Sombor. All the aforementioned results of the project actively influence the strengthening of local communities of small and medium-sized towns on the Danube, through networking, digitization, and education.

Redesign, regeneration, and reuse processes of memorial landscapes require delicate approaches that balance symbolic meaning, everyday use, ecological resilience, and long-term stewardship. While such balance can be supported through participatory planning, in Serbia these practices remain underdeveloped and have limited influence on decision-making. This research addresses this gap by translating public attitudes into applicable design guidelines that support sustainable, ethical, and context-sensitive future interventions. Within the Memorial Park “October in Kragujevac,” several areas are currently neglected, providing an appropriate context for examining potential spatial interventions. The main goal is to undestand what programmatic additions in these and similar areas citizens perceive as acceptable or desirable, and how these perceptions relate preservation memorial identity preservation. Methodologically, the research has two phases. The first phase involves the analysis of primary and secondary sources documenting the current condition of selected locations within the memorial park, alongside relevant examples of good practice. The second phase consists of an empirical survey conducted with a sample of 212 participants, including local residents, park users, and visitors from different age groups. The survey is conceptualized as a supplementary tool used to test and validate proposed concepts through consultation with a broader public. Survey results indicate differentiated public preferences: more than 70% of respondents support regeneration through child-oriented programmes, while the majority oppose interventions perceived as commercially oriented or incompatible with the commemorative character of the site. By grounding future design strategies in public preferences and lifecycle-oriented thinking, the research contributes to long-term cultural, social, and environmental sustainability.