Coordinating national, municipal, and European efforts for flood protection and urban renewal 

Maribor, Slovenia’s second-largest city, faces growing climate risks: extreme heat, poor air quality, and flooding linked to heavy rains. As the regional energy and climate agency, the Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje (ENERGAP) supports local authorities with climate risk assessment, adaptation planning, and the integration of nature-based solutions into urban development and investment processes. In 2024, ENERGAP prepared a regional climate risk and vulnerability assessment that identified heat stress in the built environment as one of the most significant emerging risks for Maribor. Based on these findings, the city has been working to strengthen urban resilience to extreme heat, complementing flood protection and green infrastructure investments such as the Pekre Stream restoration. 

From flood protection to urban renewal: a three-step journey 

The Pekre Stream restoration unfolded in three coordinated phases. 

1. National investment in flood protection

The Slovenian Water Agency undertook major works on the Pekre Stream, including reshaping the riverbed, stabilising banks with nature-based materials, planting riparian vegetation, and restoring habitats. A newly constructed dry retention basin captures flood peaks during heavy rains. Completed in early 2025 under Reducing Flood Risk in the Drava Basin – Ptuj Drava Area, this state-level investment enhanced flood safety for nearby neighbourhoods and created the ecological foundation for further development. 

2. Municipal upgrade – Park Pekrski potok

Building on the national investment, the City of Maribor transformed approximately 2,3 km of the stream corridor into Park Pekrski potok, a multifunctional green park combining ecological restoration, recreation, and landscape design. Investment and design documentation was prepared in coordination with planners, environmental experts, and local stakeholders, aligning the project with the sustainable urban strategy and municipal spatial plans. 

3. European pilot and community engagement – UPSURGE

The Horizon 2020 UPSURGE project complemented these efforts with innovation and soft measures. On a 500 m demonstration section, partners introduced biofiltration concepts, planted 216 trees with high air‑purification capacity, and installed microclimate monitoring stations. Residents participated in co‑designing small green areas, selecting planting sites, and contributing to surveys that helped adapt measures to local needs. 

Transforming risks into opportunities 

The restoration is already delivering visible benefits. The river corridor has been ecologically revitalised; flood risks have been reduced; and urban cooling has improved through tree planting and water‑sensitive design. New recreational spaces provide accessible areas for sports, leisure, and socialising in one of Maribor’s most densely populated districts. 

Governance and replicability insights 

Blended financing and strong municipal leadership were essential. The city aligned national, municipal, and EU‑funded projects to ensure continuity and integrated planning across phases. The initiative also reflects a broader governance and capacity‑building framework in the Podravje region. ENERGAP plays a strategic role by connecting municipalities, national institutions, and European initiatives such as the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Through knowledge transfer, replication of good practices, and monitoring of adaptation outcomes, the agency helps ensure that local climate actions are evidence-based, coordinated, and scalable. This support enables cities like Maribor to move from isolated interventions to a long‑term, integrated approach to climate resilience. 

The restoration continues with plans to complete park development and expand participatory greening. Together, these efforts offer a replicable model for European cities seeking to combine flood protection, ecological restoration, and social inclusion.

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!