CHAPTER 5: INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES OF GREEN SPACE PLANNING AND APPROACHES
5.3 International green space planning: Case study analysis
5.3.2 International case studies: Green space planning
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NETHERLANDS
Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (b) The Dutch government
requires sufficient
opportunities for access to outdoor recreation, providing 67% and 83% of neighbourhoods with recreational opportunities (walking and cycling respectively).
GREEN
Vegetation Natural surface
X
Various types PUBLIC
Accessible X Integrative X Public
inclusion and participation
X
Lived experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities Functions
Safe X
As mentioned above, this opportunity or initiative accounts for the accessibility and functionality of open spaces and also contributes to creating public recreation opportunities, but other important aspects (variety of functions for all, the ‗green‘ element and other more contributory aspects regarding use by the public (sitting, eating, relaxing, interacting, etc.) are neither planned for nor provided. This approach is therefore a successful
‗starting phase‘ with the potential to create a green space as defined and explained by theory.
ENGLAND
a) Biodiversity strategy b) New Labour Government
c) Urban White Paper (refer to Table 18 for specific initiatives included) d) Funding schemes
e) Urban Green Spaces Taskforce
f) PPG17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation g) Public Service Agreement 8
h) Green Flag Award
Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (c) a) Ensuring biodiversity
conservation with ease of access as one of the main
GREEN
Vegetation X
Natural X
As seen, England includes a wide variety of programmes and initiatives, therefore introducing a multidisciplinary
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indicators directing this strategy.
b) Launching of reports evaluating the
management, funding and quality of urban green space planning (Wilson &
Hughes, 2011:208).
c) Set measurements to improve the quality of urban green space planning by various initiatives and programmes mostly focused on providing, improving and/or restoring parks and open spaces.
d) Funding schemes ensuring funds to be allocated and used only for parks and green space improvements.
e) Provides
recommendations in order to improve the provision, design, management and maintenance of current green spaces
f) National objectives set out for open spaces, sport and recreation.
g) Aimed to deliver cleaner, safer, greener public spaces and improve the quality of the built environment through CABE Space providing
surface Various types
X PUBLIC
Accessible X Integrative X Public
inclusion and participation
X
Lived experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions
Safe X
and multifunctional approach to green space planning (refer to Scoones (2009:10) identifying social planning as one with multiple outcomes and influences; as well as SAPS (2011:4) introducing an integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to lively place planning). The success of such an approach in England, is that each of them focuses on specific and mostly multiple aspects of public green space planning which, therefore, provides England with a successful overall approach and practical implementation of theory in terms of the following inclusions or aspects addressed:
b. Recognition of the importance of more targeted approaches improving quality and achieving a more integrated governance approach to initiate a cultural mind shift on what green spaces and parks are for in order to enhance their use and importance.
c. Initiatives and programmes
addressing the issue regarding the lack of green space planning or the
degrading quality thereof.
Environmental action taken by voluntary groups and enabled or funded by these programmes and/or other funding schemes provides potential for including the local community in upgrading by encouraging and empowering communities to get involved
themselves and as such, create space with a raised standard.
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good practice guidance and implementing participative local authorities regarding quality and quantity, planning and design improvement.
h) The Green Flag serves as motivation for authorities to provide green spaces specifically including community involvement, facilities, management, maintenance and sustainability.
Funding still has certain limitations and therefore also provides for certain potential issues regarding sustainable and long-term viable green spaces.
f. The supporting of urban renaissance and especially the objective of
promoting social inclusion and community cohesion as well as health, well-being and sustainable
development, contribute largely to the aim and function of green space planning. The inclusion of planning policies ensures needs of local communities are included in green space regeneration and that green spaces are created with community engagement on various levels and aspects in order to achieve success.
g and h. When providing direct guidelines for creating green spaces it becomes part of the planning principles and frameworks. It also ensures certainty regarding what green spaces are and how to plan for them,
empowering municipalities and local community to engage in the planning and creating of successful green spaces. With the ‗Green Flag‘ initiatives they ensure that green spaces are not simply provided, but that the providers thoroughly research and understand the guidelines for creating these spaces in order to ensure they create
successful spaces qualifying them to obtain this prestigious award.
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KÄFERBERG (SWITZERLAND)
- „Freihaltezone’ (open space protection zone) Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (c) Provides and protects
valuable habitats and fulfills ecological and agricultural production functions (Lange et al., 2007:246). Provides for urban recreation (walking, jogging, cycling) easily accessible by public transport. The integration of the local population‟s input and needs into the decision- making process (Lange et al., 2007:253) by means of surveys.
GREEN
Vegetation X Natural
surface
X
Various types
X PUBLIC
Accessible X Integrative X Public
inclusion and participation
X
Lived experience
X
QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
Functions X
Safe
The most successful aspect of this approach is the inclusion of public inputs, ideas and preferences.
Combined with an accessible and multi- functional green space this approach significantly and successfully includes all of the measurements regarding
‗Green‘ and ―Public‘. The ‗Quality‘
aspect can also be regarded as successful. Even though no specific steps have been taken in terms of applying management, maintenance and safety service, the on-site presence of the farmer provides a sense of management and safety, but is not included in the checklist as this is not specifically included in the
approach but merely indirectly noticeable.
UNITED NATIONS (UN) – SWEDEN, INDIA, PHILIPPINES - ecoBUDGET
Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (e) Implementing „environmental
budgeting‟ aimed to plan, control, monitor, report on, and evaluate the
consumption of natural resources (such as climate stability, air quality, land, water, raw materials, and biodiversity). This is created
GREEN
Vegetation X Natural
surface
X
Various types PUBLIC
Accessible Integrative
Practical implementations included focuses on the continuous inclusion of the public; demarcation of green vending zones forcing hawkers to sell in environmentally safe areas;
addressing of environmental issues and the possibility of addressing poverty alleviation.
Although only three (3) measurements
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by mirroring the cycles or phases of financial budgets in order to also naturally become part of local
authority routines to improve sustainable performance of local governments.
Public inclusion and participation
X
Lived experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities Functions Safe
are included or addressed in the ecoBudget, the emphasis and success of this approach lies within the ‗How‘
regarding the implementation thereof.
The examples (Sweden, India and Philippines) prove that this approach rather focuses on the protection of current green areas (natural resources) rather than creating green spaces accessible and functional to the public, therefore being unsuccessful in terms of green space planning (as per theory).
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - Native landscaping
Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (f) Focuses on the economic
benefit of green space planning by means of planting only local plants in green spaces (less
expensive, lower costs, etc).
GREEN
Vegetation X Natural
surface
X
Various types PUBLIC
Accessible Integrative Public inclusion and participation Lived experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions Safe
Although the sustainable aspect of economy is included, and the provision of green infrastructure (e.g. trees) is initiated, it might also seem relatively successful in terms of theory regarding the provision of ‗green‘. Other aspects focusing on public use, diverse functions and amenities, and accessibility are not included and addressed. Therefore the approach is successful in increasing ‗green‘, but not necessarily providing space attracting human activity i.e. not in terms of measurements corresponding to
‗Public‘ and ‗Quality‘. As was the situation with the ecoBudget, the native landscaping approaches primarily aim at creating (and protecting) native and local vegetation without particularly including or planning for human activities and social interaction and
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functions i.e. unsuccessful with regards to theory.
NORTH AMERICA - Urban forestry
Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (g) Addressing wider social
challenges by managing urban forests and green space planning, producing public benefits and
environmental quality. Also includes responsibilities like maintaining and replacing street trees, enhancing public health, managing parks and environmental services
GREEN
Vegetation X Natural
surface
X
Various types
X
PUBLIC
Accessible Integrative Public inclusion and participation Lived experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions Safe
This approach values already existing natural green spaces by implementing managing and maintenance aspects which improve public attraction and benefits i.e. better health and more quality spaces. The inclusion of public needs and inputs as well as the provision of or planning for activities and diverse functions are not included and therefore (according to the theory regarding green space planning – as summarized above) this is not completely successful or inclusive.
NETHERLANDS, UK, BELGIUM - Urban Habitats Project
Cross reference: Chapter 4, subsection 4.4.2 (h) Collaboration of these
approaches in order to develop new, broader, inclusive ways of creating and maintaining urban habitats (high-quality green spaces in urban areas) with increasing public
GREEN
Vegetation Natural surface
X
Various types PUBLIC
Accessible X
In terms of theory, green spaces (natural or human) are present and/or improved in a public inclusive and participative manner. Therefore success is achieved in terms of green space, public and planning with a wider and therefore more inclusive
perspective, enabling more diverse
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involvement and awareness. Integrative X Public
inclusion and participation
X
Lived experience
X
QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions Safe
perspectives, inputs and ideas. Despite these successes, the reference or inclusion of activities and various functions is not mentioned and therefore influences the level of success achieved by the project.
Source: Own creation (2013)
The table analyses the approaches discussed in previous chapters. It identifies which of these international approaches were successful (or failed) in terms of the issues of measurement, obtained from the theoretical investigations (Chapter 4) regarding the planning and provision of green spaces.