Nice is France’s greenest city. It took a bold approach from the city’s mayor to lead its green transformation and gather support from the public and local businesses despite the disruption to their everyday lives. We spoke with Mrs. Barbara Prot, Municipal Councillor of Nice and gained exclusive insights into the political motivation and drive to make Nice a greener and more active city. We hope you enjoy our interview below.

HE: In your opinion, what is the role of the cities and municipalities in transforming spaces into active and engaging places in cities?  What kind of challenges did you face in Nice?

BP: I argue that cities and municipalities are vital in transforming urban spaces into active, engaging places. City leaders, I believe, are responsible for promoting an environment that encourages citizen participation while addressing mobility, well-being, and quality of life.

This process must include the provision of accessible and inclusive infrastructure for all—such as parks, cycle paths, public squares, and sports facilities—which not only encourage physical activity but also strengthen social ties.

Equally important is involving citizens in the design and development of these spaces. A participatory approach ensures that urban areas reflect the needs and aspirations of local communities while fostering a sense of belonging. Moreover, creating active spaces often aligns with sustainability efforts, as soft mobility and green spaces help reduce a city's carbon footprint.

Drawing on the experience of Nice, municipalities have a central role in shaping more dynamic, inclusive, and resilient cities. Nice, the fifth-largest city in France with over 350,000 inhabitants, is the vibrant heart and capital of the wider Nice Côte d’Azur Metropole.

Since 2008, Mayor Christian Estrosi has led efforts to transform Nice into a green city by the blue Mediterranean Sea. The transformation began with mobility: an ambitious public transport strategy was launched to provide a high-performance, environmentally friendly alternative to car use. This included the development of a tramway network, park-and-ride facilities, and multimodal hubs. Today, 75% of journeys in the city are already clean.

Further ambitious measures are under discussion to remove 20,000 cars from the Promenade des Anglais, promote soft mobility options such as self-service electric bikes and scooters, and expand and upgrade the cycling network.

Alongside rethinking Nice’s mobility strategy, it is crucial to restore nature to the heart of the city. Since 2008, the municipality has created 16 new parks, seven collective gardens, and nearly 100 educational gardens. Since 2021, more than 100,000 trees have been planted, with a target of one tree per inhabitant by 2026. A striking example of this green revolution is the Paillon Promenade—a 12-hectare green corridor in the heart of the urban area, home to 1,600 trees, 6,000 shrubs, and 50,000 perennial plants. By 2026, it is set to expand to 20 hectares.

Trees play a key role in improving air quality, lowering urban temperatures, capturing CO2, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, more green spaces help reduce traffic noise, create pedestrian-friendly areas, promote outdoor sports, and foster a calmer, healthier living environment. They are a vital tool in the fight against climate change.

In short, I strongly believe that municipalities have a crucial role in shaping more dynamic, inclusive, and resilient cities—ensuring that urban development meets both the expectations of local residents and the challenges of environmental sustainability.

Since July 2021, the City has been registered as « Winter Resort Town of the Riviera” on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Nice lies by the sea and is surrounded by hills and further away by mountains. Another major achievement of Nice is its ongoing greening plan. Other parks have been designed like the « Grand Parc Paysager » along our river Var, and some parking lots have been changed into gardens, like the Garden of Saint Jean d’Angély and the garden Jeanne d’Arc.

RP: What is the story behind Nice’s fascinating outdoor workout facilities, and what are the city’s future plans for cycling paths, etc?  

BP: Nice is leading the way in promoting an active, healthy lifestyle. The start-up company Weward recently reported that the city is the second most walked city in France, with inhabitants averaging 7,000 steps per day.

The Promenade des Anglais stretches along the Baie des Anges and its pebble beaches. Built in 1932, it spans 7 km and naturally attracts people to walk, run, or cycle. However, this alone is not enough. On the one hand, we recognise the importance of physical activity for the health and well-being of all residents. That’s why we have prioritised the development of outdoor sports facilities across different neighbourhoods. Eleven workout parks have been created to enable everyone, regardless of age or fitness level, to exercise in accessible, welcoming, and friendly spaces that promote physical and mental health.

It is important to highlight that the City of Nice’s commitment to outdoor physical activity goes beyond infrastructure. It reflects a genuine urban well-being strategy, redesigning public spaces to be more social, inclusive, green, and conducive to healthy activities.

On the other hand, another major challenge for the city is expanding its cycling network. Nice has set itself an ambitious target: to create 78 km of additional cycling routes within the city, 160 km across the wider Nice Metropole, and to achieve a 10% modal share for cycling. To meet this goal, public spaces must be redesigned to make the city more cyclist-friendly while ensuring their safety. This project requires long-term planning, significant investment, and close collaboration between city authorities, citizens, retailers, and local associations. In my view, promoting cycling as a primary mode of transport is a key pillar of the city’s ecological transition and a crucial step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking ahead, developing other outdoor facilities, such as walking routes and sports areas in various neighbourhoods, remains a priority. We recently introduced walking routes called Boucle Nice Acti Santé, featuring fitness stops through green parks with remarkable trees, encouraging residents to walk in their own neighbourhoods or explore new areas of Nice. Parks, gardens, and green spaces are ideal for promoting physical activity. These routes form part of our broader Nice Acti Santé programme, which offers all residents—regardless of age or physical condition—a personalised health assessment, guiding them towards the most suitable fitness opportunities.

By providing these initiatives, the city positions itself as a key player in the fight against sedentary lifestyles and related health issues while strengthening social cohesion through shared activities.

To sum up, these efforts fully align with the city’s commitment to enabling all residents to engage in regular physical activity in a friendly, peaceful, and accessible environment.

HE: How is the City of Nice’s collaboration with NGOs? Why are you keen to collaborate with NGOs like Azur Sport Sante?

RP: Aligned with the belief that involving civil society is essential in rethinking urban spaces, the City of Nice works closely with associations, recognising their vital role in promoting health, well-being and combating sedentary lifestyles. Thanks to these partnerships, we can reach more citizens and offer tailored programmes that meet the specific needs of different social groups. For instance, collaborating with organisations such as Azur Sport Santé allows us to draw on valuable expertise in implementing public health initiatives and promoting physical activity. Together, we organise events, workshops, and awareness-raising activities that encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Another key aspect of these collaborations is innovation. Associations are often at the forefront of community initiatives, bringing fresh ideas and creative solutions to overcome barriers to sport and health access. This co-creation dynamic enables us to develop both local and European projects that are more effective and relevant to the needs of the population. Not only does this allow us to benefit from the expertise of other stakeholders, but it also provides opportunities to discover and be inspired by best practices from other cities. These exchanges enrich our experience and help us adapt our local initiatives to reflect the most successful approaches observed elsewhere.

By working together, we aim to make Nice a city where health, sport, and well-being are accessible to all, reinforcing our commitment to creating a more balanced and harmonious urban life.

RP: How was the involvement of the City of Nice and the collaboration between Museum of Sport+ Azur Sport Sante’s MOVE Game in the Olympic Games in Nice?

BP: The MOVE project, carried out in partnership with the National Sports Museum and Azur Sport Santé, focused on developing active design—a concept that integrates physical activity into daily life through urban planning. The goal was to create environments encouraging movement, particularly by installing Jeux Bouge +, an interactive game designed to engage residents, especially children, in fun physical activities.

To achieve this, priority neighbourhoods were identified as strategic locations, as medical studies in Nice revealed higher-than-average rates of childhood overweight and obesity in these areas. This project aligns perfectly with the AMSTRAMGRAM initiative, which already targets these neighbourhoods with the aim of promoting physical activity and reducing health inequalities. The two sites selected for the Jeux Bouge + games were chosen for their potential to encourage sport and movement within communities that tend to have more sedentary lifestyles.

By addressing multiple themes, from nutrition to physical activity, the City of Nice is committed to tackling sedentary behaviour among children and fostering a more active lifestyle. The installation of Jeux Bouge + in these neighbourhoods, alongside other health initiatives, plays a key role in this effort.

These actions reflect the city’s ambition to provide its residents with a living environment that promotes not only physical well-being but also social cohesion, particularly in the most vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Eu-ropean Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.