《Under pressure: Factors shaping urban greenspace provision in a mid-sized city》

打印
作者
Chris Boulton;Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes;Meg Holden;Jason Byrne
来源
CITIES,Vol.106,Issue1,Article 102816
语言
英文
关键字
Urban greenspace;Planning practice;Municipal governance;Qualitative methods;Property development
作者单位
Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia;Urban Studies Program, Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3, Canada;Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Churchill Avenue, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia;Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia;Urban Studies Program, Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3, Canada;Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Churchill Avenue, Hobart, Tas 7001, Australia
摘要
Urban greenspaces provide diverse ecosystem functions, services and benefits to residents. Much commentary has been offered to date about citizens' demands for more urban greenspace. Less attention, however, has been given to the ‘supply side’ pressures experienced by local government in delivering urban greenspace, particularly in mid-sized cities. Greater attention to factors shaping supply is warranted, especially in the context of rapid population growth. By understanding how existing greenspace provision approaches can stymie the efforts of local government to meet citizens' needs, new approaches can be identified. This paper assesses several factors shaping urban greenspace provision in Surrey - a city within the Greater Vancouver area. Insights are derived from in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, public documents, and census and municipal data about parks and their context as a specific type of greenspace. Our findings suggest that governance tools, economy and property markets, and financial and natural resources manifest as core factors influencing urban greenspace provision in Surrey. A reliance on governance tools premised upon standards has created park provision paradoxes. Treating greenspace provision as a largely technocratic exercise may be limiting Surrey's ability to respond to changing politics, economics and population trends. We point to alternative approaches.