The management of urban parks and its contribution to social interactions

ABSTRACT

The topic of managing and protecting parks fits well into a broader paradigm at local, national, and international levels. Local decision-makers are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits and values of urban parks. The value of urban parks brings together different perspectives from health, recreation, heritage value, ecology, to the use and management of these parks sustainably. Protection and sustainable management are significant for urban parks’ survival and utilisation. At the same time, the management and maintenance of urban parks play important roles in social interactions. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the contribution of urban park management to the development of social interaction within Peace Park in the city of Podujevo, Kosovo. The findings suggest that local parks may support the development of social interaction in urban areas. Associations were found between the quality of urban parks, usage, and extent of interaction. The study concludes that in developing countries, management plays a crucial role in fostering social interaction. That in turn, increases the pressure for local authorities to provide better management and innovative solutions.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban parks
• management
• usability
• social interactions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Unpublished source: Muçolli, R. (2018). Interview with author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arlinda Hajzeri

Arlinda Hajzeri is an urban planner and advocate of sustainable approaches to development. She is Professor in Urban Studies at College for Business and Technology, Kosovo and a Visiting professor at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. She has written and spoken widely on a broad range of urban planning and development issues, particularly sustainability, public participation, technology and capacity development.