Floating Urban Parks Made Entirely From Recycled Plastic Waste
July 13, 2021 by Robin Plaskoff Horton
Two floating urban parks made entirely of reclaimed plastic waste, one in the Netherlands and the other in Germany, demonstrate the value and potential of reusing plastic debris to create public green spaces.
The floating urban parks offer green open space while also stimulating local biodiversity.
In collaboration with the Municipality of Rotterdam, the non-profit Recycled Island Foundation’s Clean Rivers project developed the first floating park of its kind and hopes to establish the concept internationally.
Floating in the Maas River about 1 5/8 feet (1/2 meter) deep, the 1500 sq foot (140 sq-meter) park offers green space for people to gather while also serving to stimulate biodiversity in the city’s harbor area.
The park’s 28 hexagonal-shaped floating building blocks each contain different layers of plants and soil with vegetation growing on top of the blocks and through them into the water.
The result is an enhanced natural habitat that provides food, shelter and a breeding ground for local birds, fish, snails, worms and beetles.
The parks feature 3D-printed seating made from retrieved plastic debris.
Collaborating with the Dutch design firm, Conscious Designs, the developers created and installed 3D-printed sofas made from the retrieved plastic litter.
Floating park in Düsseldorf.
Clearing plastic from rivers can help save our oceans.
Over a period of 1 1/2 years, Clean Rivers developed, tested and monitored three passive litter traps to efficiently retrieve the plastics from the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Brussels and the Indonesian island, Ambon.
Litter traps collecting plastic debris.
The developers say that because 80-95% of the plastics in the ocean flows from city rivers, clearing plastic from rivers can help save our oceans.
Clear Rivers retrieves the plastics directly from municipal rivers and ports to actively prevent the further accumulation of the plastic soup polluting the world’s seas and oceans.
Clear Rivers continues to search for new international locations in which to expand their concept for retrieving litter in rivers before it reaches the seas and oceans.
(The Netherlands is no stranger to floating structures as it’s the home of the world’s first floating dairy farm.)
Images via the Recycled Island Foundation.
Category: Green & Sustainable, Greening, Public Gardens, Reclaimed & Recycled
Tags: floating park, recycled plastic, urban design
Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Urban Gardens!
share | 
e-mail a friend | comments (22)
Floating Urban Parks Made Entirely From Recycled Plastic Waste – Urban Gardens | TripWriters Pingback said:
[…] By Urban Gardens July 13, 2021 0 2 Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp [ READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ] […]
— July 14, 2021 @ 06:05
We need these on a massive scale. Great idea.
— July 21, 2021 @ 06:07
Buy Tarpaulins Uk supply heavyweight tarpaulins
— October 7, 2021 @ 06:26
Can you partner with us in Ghana to create a prototype?
— January 17, 2022 @ 00:56
Brilliant blog
— February 1, 2022 @ 05:27
Edible Water Bottles Made From Biodegradable Algae Pingback said:
[…] he read about the amount of waste plastic ending up in landfills and polluting our planet, Icelandic product design student Ari […]
— July 21, 2022 @ 14:37
I really like the way you describe things; it’s obvious and succinct.
— March 3, 2025 @ 07:07
This article is a must-read for anyone wanting to improve their knowledge in this domain.
— March 8, 2025 @ 08:08
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
— March 20, 2025 @ 05:24
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.
— March 27, 2025 @ 00:41
29156 449038hello admin, your internet site page?s pattern is simple and clean and i like it. Your articles are remarkable. Remember to maintain up the very good function. Greets.. 460485
— April 2, 2025 @ 00:56
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!
— May 19, 2025 @ 00:36
**mitolyn official**
Mitolyn is a carefully developed, plant-based formula created to help support metabolic efficiency and encourage healthy, lasting weight management.
— January 23, 2026 @ 20:14
**nervecalm**
NerveCalm is a high-quality nutritional supplement crafted to promote nerve wellness, ease chronic discomfort, and boost everyday vitality.
— March 16, 2026 @ 17:39
There are some attention-grabbing cut-off dates on this article but I don?t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There’s some validity but I’ll take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as effectively
— May 13, 2026 @ 11:44
Another important aspect is that if you are a mature person, travel insurance intended for pensioners is something you should really think about. The elderly you are, greater at risk you might be for having something awful happen to you while in another country. If you are not really covered by some comprehensive insurance plan, you could have some serious complications. Thanks for revealing your hints on this blog.
— May 17, 2026 @ 05:06
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have take into accout your stuff previous to and you’re just too great. I really like what you have received right here, really like what you’re stating and the way through which you assert it. You are making it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is actually a terrific website.
— May 17, 2026 @ 07:09
I will immediately seize your rss as I can’t find your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly permit me know so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
— May 18, 2026 @ 11:44
F*ckin? awesome things here. I?m very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i am looking forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
— May 18, 2026 @ 15:39
Thanks for your short article. I would like to say that your health insurance agent also works well with the benefit of the coordinators of your group insurance policy. The health insurance professional is given a summary of benefits searched for by an individual or a group coordinator. Such a broker really does is search for individuals and also coordinators which will best complement those wants. Then he offers his recommendations and if both parties agree, the actual broker formulates a legal contract between the two parties.
— May 18, 2026 @ 21:57
Hey! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?
— May 20, 2026 @ 03:23
That is the best blog for anyone who wants to seek out out about this topic. You realize so much its almost laborious to argue with you (not that I really would want?HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply great!
— May 20, 2026 @ 12:20