In the early July days of mid-summer, people of all ages came together at the new park in Suharekë. From children running along the paths to older residents enjoying the green spaces, the park has become a place for the whole community to gather and spend time outdoors, enabled by the Municipal Performance Grant, the incentive initiated by Helvetas organization, through the DEMOS project co-funded by the European Union, Switzerland and Sweden.
“For years, the Municipality of Suharekë has consistently ranked among the top municipalities in Kosovo in municipal performance, and it is worth noting that in the most recent reporting year, 2023, it placed third at the national level.”, explains Rinor Zyrapi Coordinator of Performance in Suharekë.
“The Performance Grant is a big plus for us,” he adds. “Our municipal budget for capital investments is around €13 million annually, but the grant gave us additional means to invest in projects that citizens consider essential – like parks, ecological and recreational spaces.”
The decision to focus on recreational parks and playgrounds was deliberate. “We had to invest in ecological, efficient, and citizen-centered projects that reach directly the citizens”, Zyrapi explains. “At the same time, people in Suharekë needed safe and modern spaces where families, children, and young people could gather. We saw this as a chance to respond to both.”
The municipality invested the grant funds in a new sports and recreation center with modern playing fields in the “Fidanishte” neighborhood, creating a vibrant space for the community to stay active and connected.
For the community it created a space where citizens can enjoy their free time outdoors with their families.
“This project has created safe and modern spaces for children to play, engage in recreation and healthy development.
The playground has become a meeting place for our families and the wider community, encouraging physical activity, social interaction, and active time in nature. At the same time, this investment improves the urban environment and enhances the quality of life for Suhareka’s residents.” – says Lirim Qatani, a nearby resident grateful for the project.
Bringing community together
The parks are more than just playgrounds. They’ve become new centers of social life in Suharekë’s villages. Parents have safe places for their children to play. Teenagers use the open spaces for cycling and sports. Small businesses, from kiosks to bicycle rentals, are beginning to benefit from the increased activity around the parks.
“Before, there were few safe spaces for young people outside cafes,” Zyrapi notes. “Now we have more and better opportunities where people of all ages come together. They’ve already changed the rhythm of community life.”, he said.
Like every infrastructure project, the parks came with challenges. From bureaucratic procedures to implementation hurdles. But Zyrapi emphasizes strong municipal leadership and donor cooperation made the difference. “The continuous support of Mayor Bali Muharremaj ensured every project, especially those tied to embassies and donor organizations, received maximum backing,” he says.
Suharekë’s experience shows how performance-based funding can push municipalities to deliver visible, meaningful projects. By linking governance quality with financial support, the municipal performance grant incentivizes local leaders to plan carefully, report transparently, and prioritize citizens’ needs.
As children run in Suharekë’s new parks, it’s clear the grant has built more than playgrounds. It has created a sense of shared community space, given families new opportunities for leisure, and reminded citizens that good governance can lead directly to a better everyday life.
