Being Together in Urban Parks: Connecting Public Space, Leisure, and Diversity

Abstract

Western countries are facing serious political issues regarding integration and social cohesion in multicultural societies and migration. Dutch society is engaged with these issues in the context of current racial tensions and conflicts. The government recently introduced policy measures to foster interactions between Dutch natives and ethnic migrant groups to promote integration. This research explores the extent and nature of interethnic interactions by focusing on leisure activities in the public spaces of ethnically mixed neighborhoods. Observations and semi-structured interviews are used to gather information about the interactions in and the meaning of urban public spaces. Results show that although not many interethnic interactions occurred, people from various ethnic backgrounds valued being together in parks.

Keywords:

• ethnic minorities
• leisure behavior
• public spaces
• social integration

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Irena Ateljevic as well as the anonymous referees and the editor, Karla Henderson, for their comments on earlier drafts of this article.