Riga reveals what it costs to maintain street greenery and traffic-calming features
Riga's city government maintains flower pots, parklets and plastic bollards under several contracts worth tens and hundreds of thousands of euros. Total costs per street cannot be added up, as many solutions are part of larger construction project budgets.
In Riga, the capital of Latvia, large flower pots, parklets (small seating and green areas set up at the roadside) and flexible plastic bollards are increasingly common. The city uses them to calm traffic, limit vehicle speeds and create a greener environment. The news portal Jauns.lv looked into how much maintaining these features costs the city budget, and asked emergency services how they affect their work.
Costs cannot be totalled
Ieva Grīsle, a project coordinator at the External Communications Division of the Riga municipality's Communications Department, says greening costs over the past two years cannot be separated out by street. Many solutions are carried out as part of larger construction projects, such as main roads or cycle paths. Once the objects are handed over, maintenance passes to different municipal units.
The Housing and Environment Department maintains parklets and plantings installed in 2021 and 2022. In 2025 its contract with SIA Green and Smart was worth €57,402.45 excluding VAT. In 2026 the work went to SIA Hercs Flora under a €28,629.66 contract excluding VAT, which does not cover sites on Vaļņu and Teātra streets.
The Public Space and Mobility Department signed a four-year contract in 2026 with SIA Landscape Construction for €400,000 excluding VAT. It covers not only flower pots but also flower beds, plantings on bus stop shelters and 40 sports grounds.
Plastic bollards
A contract with SIA KMK projekts covers installation, removal and restoration of bollards for €80,000, and a separate one covers their washing for €41,990 (both excluding VAT). The city says the bollards help separate road users and stop cars parking on pavements.
Concerns from emergency services
Egils Lapiņš of the Emergency Medical Service says obstacles, including traffic-calming features, sometimes force crews to find a longer route or go on foot. The State Fire and Rescue Service reminds that access roads for fire engines must be at least 3.5 metres wide and 4.25 metres high.
