Created at the Regions’ initiative, the Natural Regional Park centres towns, departments, cities and conurbations in the territory’s neighbourhood around its Sustainable Development Project. Seven towns or conurbations in Lorraine, Alsace and Franche-Comté support the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park.

A door-city (city or conurbation) is located on the outskirts of a park. Since their beginning, Natural Regional Parks have maintained privileged relationships with these nearby urban communes (reception of school groups, tourist information, inhabitant awareness, training schemes…). Door-city residents know and appreciate this territory in which they recharge their batteries. In return, many live within the Park, and work in the great basins.