CHAPTER 4: GREEN SPACE PLANNING
4.7 The role of green space planning in creating lively places
Chapter 4: Green space planning Page 130 Environmental benefits Maintains biodiversity through the conservation and enhancing of urban
habitats.
Reduction of pollution, moderating extremes regarding climate change and contributing to cost-effective sustainable urban drainage systems also enhancing the living environment and provision of clean and efficient services.
Provides habitats for flora and fauna as a haven for wildlife and also includes corridors or stepping stones from one habitat to another.
Economic benefits Direct employment and revenue generation.
Affects nearby property prices.
Attracts businesses and tourists.
Education Offers numerous environmental education opportunities (including activities run by park rangers and WATCH groups - children‘s environmental clubs affiliated to Wildlife Trusts) also contributing to the creation of safe, usable spaces.
Source: Adapted from Wilson and Hughes (2011:217) and Swanwick et al. (2003:103).
Another important aspect noted by Wilson and Hughes (2011:219) regarding the successful addressing of social issues through green space planning, is that funding should not only be allocated for new green spaces planning, but should also contribute to improving existing green spaces. This creates lively places where liveliness was inefficient or completely lacking, thereby contributing to overall environment development.
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The following table illustrates different levels and the corresponding contribution of green space planning in addressing social issues (cross reference to Table 4: Summary of rural social challenges).
Table 22: Contribution of green spaces on different social levels
Source: Own creation based on Shackleton and Blair (2013:104)
Within affluent suburbs or towns, these green spaces contribute to valuable lively place planning by including lively place planning elements or necessities in terms of being ―nearby, safe, of suitable size, well maintained and having lots of vegetation or good facilities‖ (Shackleton & Blair, 2013:109).
The same can unfortunately not be said for townships and RDP residents (based on surveys in the towns of Fort Beaufort and Port Albert in the Eastern Cape Province) where the lack of safety, good maintenance and sufficient facilities are the overall experience of current public green space planning (Shackleton & Blair, 2013:109).
LEVEL CONTRIBUTION OF GREEN SPACES
Individual level Offer opportunities for physical and psychological rejuvenation (i.e. energy, anxiety, anger, fatigue and sadness – De Jong et al. (2012:1379)) and well-being and a sense of social place.
Family level Provide a space for interaction, joint learning and relaxation.
Community level Offer opportunities for social contact and so contribute to a sense of place, thereby adding to community identity, solidarity and security
Children They offer a different experience of the world, a place of awe, imagination and a place for learning about issues rarely encountered in the more structured environments at work, school or home
Ecological Provide many benefits including offering habitats for animals and plants (which sequester carbon dioxide and produce oxygen necessary for life); they reduce noise pollution and alleviate the urban heat island effect, therefore contributing to urban ecosystem services.
Other Provide tangible products such as shade, fuel, wood, fruits and medicinal plants.
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As mentioned by the same source (Shackleton & Blair, 2013:109), municipalities or other appointed organs can add exceptional value to the occurrence of public green space planning and especially to their contribution to social challenges by improving security, facilities and the quality of these spaces as well as eliminating the hindrance regarding access because of the lack of proximity (Shackleton & Blair, 2013:109).
Urban green space planning also provides social and psychological services to urban inhabitants thereby improving the liveability and quality of cities and towns, as green space planning provides relief from crowded, stressful urban lifestyles (Ward et al., 2009:49).
Botanical gardens as a green space are also used to tackle social problems through improving urban environments - this is demonstrated in South Africa through greening projects run by the NBGs (National Botanical Gardens - a vital component of the urban green space system) (Ward et al., 2009:54).
Because of the significant difference in the provision of green spaces for wealthy (urban) and poorer (rural) communities, inequality becomes exacerbated contributing to social challenges especially in the rural communities (refer to Chapter 2 on rural social challenges). Therefore the value of creating and planning for more proportioned and equal access and opportunities to the experiencing of specific functions of green space planning can reduce and address the challenge regarding inequality between different sectors of society.
Wilson and Hughes (2011:212) also recognize and therefore substantiate Ward et al.‘s (2009:54) reference to the contribution of green space planning towards improving the quality of the urban environment, improving health and well-being, as well as providing opportunities for sport and recreation. In terms of Table 4 (Summary of rural social challenges) these contributions address identified challenges such as social provisions (sport and recreation facilities), malnutrition, welfare and sanitation services (health and well-being) and poor living conditions (improving the environmental quality).
The inclusion of shading impervious surfaces by planting trees or other vegetation is seen as a very important action in the SMA department of urban forestry‘s efforts to mitigate the urban heat island effect currently contributing and worsening pollution and other natural disasters (Young, 2010:317).
Therefore the inclusion of urban forestry and its implementation of trees as ecological service and especially the management thereof will reduce social issues such as unhealthy and polluted environments.
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The important influence of green space planning on lively place planning can be concluded in the statement made by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2002:71) that
―...the right approach for serving the needs of people is to develop a diverse mix of types and sizes of spaces designed for and accessible to different social groups, within a general green space planning network for the wider area‖. Therefore, the most significant value of green space planning is its diverse approach, based on what the local people want and need i.e. planning for the people.
In planning such diverse and participative green spaces, a sense of pride is engendered with an appreciation by people of all ages. Therefore, benefits gained by creating green spaces include the provision of ―...vibrant towns and cities, better personal health, a stronger sense of community and a more prosperous economy‖ (House of Commons, 2003:3).