A major urban intervention was initiated within the historical context of Zanjan, a project that for years had been the subject of debate, support, and criticism among citizens and professionals alike. The proposal aimed to reclaim part of the city’s public realm from the dominance of automobiles and return it to people, resulting in the Sabzeh Meydan pedestrianization project.

The Sabzeh Meydan area, located in proximity to Zanjan’s historic bazaar, the Jameh Mosque, and a collection of significant heritage buildings, represents one of the most vital and highly frequented urban districts of the city. It accommodates substantial daily pedestrian movement and serves as a central connective corridor between the eastern and western parts of Zanjan. This centrality had turned the area into a major traffic artery, leading to a significant concentration of vehicular flow and private car movement. Over time, this congestion generated multiple urban challenges, one of the most notable being the gradual decline of pedestrian presence. While historic and cultural districts are typically understood as spaces of social interaction, the dominance of vehicular circulation had increasingly restricted citizens’ ability to meaningfully use and experience this urban environment.

In recent years, the United Nations has emphasized, through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the importance of creating safer, healthier, and more accessible cities. The development of high-quality public spaces and the expansion of pedestrian-oriented environments are recognized as key strategies for achieving sustainable urban futures. Such approaches reduce reliance on private automobiles, lower fossil fuel consumption, and consequently contribute to decreased air pollution. Furthermore, increased walking activity and greater use of public space can have significant positive effects on both the physical and mental well-being of citizens. Many cities worldwide have implemented pedestrianization projects to reduce car dependency and improve urban quality of life, aligning these efforts with broader sustainability frameworks.

The Sabzeh Meydan pedestrianization project was defined within this conceptual framework. Its primary objectives included enhancing safety for users, strengthening social life in the city center, improving environmental quality, and reducing automobile dependency within the historic core of Zanjan. As the research executor of the project, University of Zanjan contributed through the involvement of its academic experts and faculty members across the stages of research, design, and evaluation. This collaboration sought to ground urban decision-making in scientific evidence and the real needs of citizens.

The design approach extended beyond the simple removal of vehicular traffic, focusing instead on the qualitative enhancement of public space. Interventions included the creation of pedestrian-friendly pathways, spaces for pause and social interaction, urban nodes and informal gathering points, seating areas, communal spaces, and zones designated for children’s play and activity. These elements were developed under expert supervision to enhance urban vitality and encourage continuous human presence in the area. The design strategy also sought to ensure compatibility with the historic context while simultaneously addressing contemporary user needs.

Despite its intended goals, the implementation phase of the Sabzeh Meydan pedestrian project was not without challenges. Following its opening, a segment of citizens and local business owners expressed opposition to the restriction of vehicular access in the city center. For many residents, this corridor had long functioned as a primary urban route, and its closure raised concerns regarding daily mobility, access to commercial areas, and traffic redistribution in surrounding streets. These concerns ultimately led to the partial reopening of the corridor to vehicular traffic, a decision that remains contested among urban experts, policymakers, and citizens.

Based on field interviews conducted by Sara Bayat, a senior researcher in sustainable architecture, diverse perspectives emerged regarding the performance of the pedestrian zone. Local shop owners generally reported dissatisfaction due to reduced sales and declining income, attributing this trend to decreased vehicular flow and, consequently, reduced customer circulation. In contrast, a significant portion of citizens expressed satisfaction with the increased pedestrian accessibility and improved spatial experience, viewing the project as a positive step toward enhancing urban livability. Field observations also highlighted issues related to corridor capacity and street width as critical challenges; some argued that the axis was never adequately capable of accommodating heavy vehicular traffic even prior to pedestrianization, and that reintroducing cars could exacerbate long-term congestion issues. (Figures 1 and 2)

The decision to reopen the route remains a subject of ongoing debate among urban specialists, municipal authorities, and citizens. Proponents of pedestrianization argue that the success of such projects requires time, cultural adaptation, and simultaneous restructuring of the broader transportation network. Opponents, however, emphasize the necessity of maintaining vehicular accessibility and responding to the immediate mobility needs of residents. This divergence of perspectives demonstrates that pedestrianization is not merely a physical redesign of space, but a complex social process requiring negotiation among diverse urban stakeholders.

In overall assessment, the Sabzeh Meydan pedestrian project can be understood as an urban intervention positioned between physical improvement and social contention. One of the key lessons of such initiatives is the importance of post-occupancy evaluation and continuous assessment of user satisfaction, which can support iterative improvements and enhance long-term effectiveness. Additionally, active participation of stakeholders particularly local businesses and residents throughout the planning and implementation phases is essential in reducing conflict and fostering shared ownership of urban transformation processes.

Figure 1 & 2. Traffic conditions and the mismatch between street width and traffic volume along the Sabzeh Meydan corridor, Zanjan (field documentation: Sara Bayat).