CHAPTER 6: LOCAL CASE STUDIES OF GREEN SPACE PLANNING AND APPROACHES TO LIVELY
6.3 Local green space planning: Case study analysis
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Chapter 6: Local case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 175
insufficient public green space situation. This situation will continue since the provision of public green spaces lies within the responsibility and jurisdiction of local government, who rather focuses on providing shelter and constructional development for the continuously growing population.
The fact that green space planning depends on subjective local governments and not the public or legislative national policies, explains the lack of sufficient and efficient green space planning initiatives to be found across the country. Some cities‟ local governments have taken the initiative to create programmes or projects for green spaces and will be summarized in the remainder of the table.
JOHANNESBURG
- Open Space System, 2002 - Green project (tree planting) Guideline states that
20–40m² of public green space should be available per capita
GREEN
Vegetation X
Natural surface Various types PUBLIC
Accessible X
Integrative Public inclusion and participation
X Lived
experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities Functions Safe
Successful in terms of providing guidelines to improve accessibility and quantity of green spaces within a specific area as well as the enhancing of an area by providing a green space planning aspect – trees – planted by (and therefore including) the community themselves. Failure in terms of providing variety, diversity and activities and functions to evoke social interaction and therefore lived experience within a space.
PORT ELIZABETH
- Metropolitan Open Space System (MOSS) - The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Includes the stationing
of two foresters in the city in order to
GREEN
Vegetation X
Successful (as mentioned by the international approach ((mentioned in the previous
chapter)) of North America‘s urban forestry) in
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establish and coordinate the city‟s urban greening and forestry programmes (Odindi & Mhangara, 2012:659).
Natural surface X Various types PUBLIC
Accessible Integrative Public inclusion and participation Lived
experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions Safe
terms of maintaining and managing green spaces in this area. However, as mentioned previously, South Africa (overall) lacks green space planning (as described and defined by theory) and therefore merely maintaining and managing current ‗open spaces‘ do not suffice as a ‗public green space planning approach‘.
DURBAN
- Greening of Moses Mabhida Stadium
- Greening of Training Stadia for the 2010 FIFA World Cup - COP17/CMP7 Event Greening Programme.
- Buffelsdraai Landfill Site Community Reforestation Project.
- Paradise Valley Reforestation Project.
- Community Adaptation Plans (CAPs).
- Durban Green Corridor.
- Durban Botanic Gardens
- South Durban Basin (SDB) Biodiversity and Greening Programme and Recycling Pilot Project.
Chapter 6: Local case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 177
Mostly interventions related to addressing and reducing
influences of climate change where initiated.
GREEN
Vegetation X
Natural surface X Various types X PUBLIC
Accessible
Integrative X Public inclusion and participation
X Lived
experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions X
Safe
As mentioned with the various plans
implemented in England, Durban‘s broad and varying approaches also create diverse projects and initiatives to address and improve the various aspects of public green space planning. Even though focus is mainly placed on climate change and environmental aspects, the inclusion of various projects enhances this green space case study.
These strategies or projects are successful in including public participation in project construction and execution (using the
communities to plant native trees for example) as well as the protection and upgrading of current green spaces like botanical gardens.
This also contributes to the successful provision of various functions, including academic opportunities and excellent educational experience as well as youth development through recreational outdoor sports (see Durban Green Corridor in Table 19.) Also successful in terms of providing alternatives that correspond with the needs and culture of the local community
(Community Adaptation Plans – refer to Table 19) also creating opportunities in terms of economic development with the creation of employment opportunities by asking local people to help in executing these initiatives.
Provides successful opportunities for social cohesion, community participation and sense of ownership when enabling the community to use these planned green spaces to plant seeds and trees for food, money, building materials, etc.
Overall, the inclusion of all these approaches
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provides Durban with a rather successful approach to public green space planning, even though more recreational, diverse and
attractive relaxing spaces might be needed – as most of these green spaces are now regarded as ‗job areas‘ or ‗food providing‘
districts, not spaces for public relaxation and interaction.
POTCHEFSTROOM (BOTANICAL GARDENS) The use and
appreciation of botanical gardens as urban green spaces;
these botanical gardens provide numerous benefits in terms of conservation, education and
recreation (Ward et al., 2009:49) in almost each city (Durban, Kirstenbosch,
Stellenbosch, Pretoria and specifically Potchefstroom).
GREEN
Vegetation X
Natural surface X Various types X PUBLIC
Accessible Integrative Public inclusion and participation
X Lived
experience QUALITY
Managed and maintained facilities
X
Functions
Safe X
Botanical gardens are successful in terms of providing well-managed and maintained green spaces for relaxation and educational
purposes. These spaces (mostly) lack the provision or planning of various daily functions and activities and some botanical gardens are less accessible in terms of entrance costs, gates, appointments, etc.
Source: Own creation (2013)
The table analyses the approaches discussed in previous chapters. It identifies which of these local 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 lively places.
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