From Gray to Green: Green Connector for College Students, Fortaleza Ceará (CE)_ 2

´Green and blue paths´ is a pilot project program of green and blue infrastructure (Nature based Solutions SbN) in local streets linking pre-elementary schools with parks, measuring the impact in walkability, safety, urban health, thermal comfort and a pedagogical participatory process with the potential to be systematized and scaled up in an expanded territory and becoming a planning strategy and urban educational program for schools and larger educational facilities. As an experiment, this specific project proposes SbN solutions in a hydrographic nano basin with high potential of converting paved streets into permeable walk-nature-play paths. Located in Bom Jardim, one of the neighborhoods with the lowest human development index in Fortaleza, associated with high density (7.786,44 hab/km²), sensitive social and environmental vulnerability and high percentage of 0-17 years old population (60%), the area of impact hosts a great number of pre-elementary schools still disconnected to parks and green areas.
The proposal integrates different areas of the public sector and civil society in a methodological process that includes 1) Co-design and pedagogical mentoring 2) Assessment methodologies with micro data at local scale before, during and after implementation and 3) SbN interventions as an innovation design strategy for streets linking schools with
local parks.
Fortaleza has worked in educational improvements (85% of the reduction in school dropout) , developed a commitment with the promotion of early childhood rights, is a role model in road safety and engaged with a green agenda (creating 100 microparks in school surroundings). The proposal believes that green and blue infrastructure in vulnerable neighborhoods can be a safe connector linking educational facilities to green areas, and foremost be a path to integrated policies at childs scale.