Green Innovation and Urban Renewal at CityLife Park in Municipio 8, Milan

A Central Green Space in Milan's Urban Landscape

CityLife Park is one of Milan's most significant green spaces, spanning approximately 173,000 square meters within the CityLife district in Municipio 8. The park is part of a comprehensive urban redevelopment plan on the former grounds of Fiera Milano, which aimed to transform industrial and exhibition space into a livable, modern neighborhood. Designed by landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson and the Gustafson Porter + Bowman studio, the park balances natural topography with sculptural design, offering residents and visitors a seamless blend of relaxation and aesthetic experience.

Located in the CityLife neighborhood, the park acts as a vital green lung for Milan's northwestern quadrant. It stretches around the iconic Tre Torri skyscrapers and intersects with cultural and commercial landmarks such as the CityLife Shopping District. Its open, car-free environment emphasizes sustainability, walkability, and community interaction. The park's orientation and paths encourage movement across multiple elevations, enhancing access between residential areas, public transit stops, and retail venues. It reflects Milan's commitment to urban regeneration that integrates ecology with architectural innovation.

The creation of CityLife Park responded to growing public demand for accessible green areas in a city where green space per capita historically lagged behind other European metropolises. By embedding this extensive park into the very fabric of a new urban quarter, the city made a clear investment in quality of life. It is not merely a beautification project but a functional component of urban infrastructure, providing essential ecosystem services such as rainwater absorption, air filtration, and temperature moderation.

Design Principles and Landscape Architecture

The layout of CityLife Park emphasizes fluidity, sightlines, and open visual axes that link the various elements of the CityLife district. Soft rolling hills, grassy fields, and organically curved paths dominate the landscape. Plantings include native species that require minimal irrigation and maintenance, contributing to the park's environmental sustainability. The design team chose a palette of textures and plant colors that change throughout the seasons, offering a dynamic visual experience year-round.

One of the park's highlights is the integration of public art and sculptural elements that echo the contemporary architecture surrounding it. Strategically placed seating areas, pergolas, and canopied pavilions invite both active and passive use. There are play areas for children, designated dog zones, and large open fields suitable for recreational sports and yoga. Water features and shaded groves help create microclimates within the park that enhance user comfort, particularly during Milan's hot summer months.

The park's pathways are deliberately designed to intersect with pedestrian traffic coming from metro stations, underground parking, and surface-level boulevards. This encourages daily use beyond weekend strolls or leisure visits. Accessibility has also been prioritized: paved trails accommodate wheelchairs and strollers, and multilingual signage makes orientation easy for tourists and residents alike. Subtle lighting systems maintain visibility in the evening without polluting the night sky, aligning with both safety and environmental goals.

A Public Space for Community and Events

CityLife Park is more than a landscaped zone—it serves as a multifunctional space for civic life. Throughout the year, it hosts outdoor concerts, food festivals, fitness classes, and open-air movie nights. These events often occur in collaboration with the adjacent CityLife Shopping District and cultural institutions, transforming the park into an anchor of local community engagement. It functions as a flexible venue that can support both large crowds and intimate gatherings, with enough space to allow these activities to coexist without conflict.

During spring and summer, temporary markets and design fairs bring artisans and food vendors into the park, fostering local entrepreneurship. These events often draw visitors from across the city and even from outside Milan, particularly during Design Week and Milano Food Week. The integration of event infrastructure—such as electricity access, sanitation facilities, and modular stages—means the park is always ready to accommodate public gatherings without compromising its natural appearance.

CityLife Park is also used by nearby schools and recreational groups for educational purposes and physical activities. Children's nature walks, sports team practices, and outdoor classes are common throughout the academic year. The park has become a learning environment, helping younger generations understand ecological principles, environmental stewardship, and the value of well-maintained urban public space. In this way, CityLife Park serves not only as a recreational area but also as an informal civic institution within Municipio 8.

Environmental Performance and Maintenance Strategies

CityLife Park is managed through a public-private partnership that ensures high standards of cleanliness and ecological balance. Green maintenance teams operate year-round to care for lawns, trees, and shrubs, while waste collection and recycling facilities are distributed throughout the park. The park is part of Milan's broader strategy to improve its urban green infrastructure, supporting pollinators, reducing surface runoff, and encouraging biodiversity.

Irrigation is managed with a smart water system connected to underground reservoirs that collect rainwater and groundwater. This reduces dependency on municipal water and ensures that even during dry periods, the park remains verdant. Seasonal maintenance includes soil aeration, compost replenishment, and pruning campaigns to manage plant health and aesthetics. The park's trees are cataloged and monitored for disease, ensuring both safety and ecological integrity.

CityLife Park represents a case study in modern urban landscaping that balances aesthetics, usability, and environmental care. As other European cities grapple with densification and climate adaptation, Milan's example is increasingly cited by planners and environmentalists alike. CityLife Park proves that even in dense urban areas, nature can be reintroduced at scale and integrated into the daily rhythm of life without becoming merely decorative.