Project Nieuw Oud Oost transforms the former Cambuur stadium site into a resource-efficient neighborhood and multifunctional community park by integrating circular principles into construction and urban development. By repurposing second-hand materials, addressing diverse community needs, and fostering engagement through placemaking, the initiative enhances circularity, creates circular jobs, and strengthens local social cohesion. The project demonstrates how temporary urban spaces can be designed sustainably, providing ecological, social, and economic value to communities while maintaining a cost-effective approach.

The community park includes spaces for children's activities, such as a labyrinth, a BMX course, and a football field, as well as a meditation garden, a relaxation area, and a community garden where residents can grow their own produce. Project Nieuw Oud Oost serves as a new form of "third space" for social connection while also engaging residents in urban development and encouraging active participation in shaping their community. It stands as a prime example of sustainable urban transformation and community-driven design.

Following the demolition of the Cambuur stadium and the football fields of VV Leeuwarden, an open space emerged in a transitioning neighbourhood awaiting redevelopment. This vacant area presented both challenges and opportunities. The key questions were how to involve residents and visitors in the transformation process and how to apply circular strategies to create a temporary yet sustainable, multifunctional, and ecologically valuable space. An interim solution was needed-one that would add value to the neighbourhood while serving as a model for participatory urban development.

Nieuw Oud Oost was developed as a test environment for circular urban planning while simultaneously functioning as a recreational and ecological hub. Designed with minimal resources and a strong focus on sustainability, key interventions included the creation of a maize maze, sunflower fields, public sports facilities, and a community vegetable garden. These elements were implemented using resource-efficient strategies, such as repurposing materials and prioritising durable, low-maintenance solutions. By allowing nature to shape the space, residents experienced an evolving landscape that previewed the future redevelopment of the neighbourhood.

Nieuw Oud Oost successfully provided opportunities for relaxation, social connection, and education.The park quickly became a vibrant space, attracting hundreds of visitors and receiving positive feedback from residents and the media. Insights gained from the project are now being applied to four additional locations in Leeuwarden, demonstrating its scalability and adaptability to different urban contexts. The initiative serves as a blueprint for integrating circular principles into temporary urban development projects.

Nieuw Oud Oost illustrates how temporary redevelopment can be leveraged to create valuable, circular, and liveable urban spaces. The project highlights the potential of small-scale circular interventions to influence long-term urban planning strategies. By demonstrating that sustainable initiatives can be realised quickly and cost-effectively, the project encourages other communities to adopt similar approaches.