The increase in social challenges especially with regards to safety and security experienced in rural communities, as well as the lack of efficient lively places and public green spaces, is predominantly increasing in importance for government and planning policies. This problem is substantiated by the large number of deaths (especially the deaths of children) drowning in rivers flowing through or nearby rural communities because of the lack of any other safe, public facilities and well-managed and maintained green spaces. The research question therefore focuses on whether the planning of lively places and green spaces in rural communities can address some of these social issues, and contribute to the strengthening of communities and creation of lively public places. Government is struggling to deal with social issues (especially that of safety and security) within rural communities and a number of strategies were discussed and drawn up. (For example, the Rural Safety Summit which took place on 10 October 1998 aimed at achieving consensus regarding issues of rural insecurity; as well as crime prevention strategies as defined by the SAPS White Paper on Safety and Security (1998).) However, very little (if any) in-depth research on the possibility of upgrading public spaces into lively green places as a solution, has been done. This study can serve as a link between literature and practical rural issues, as well as contribute to green space and lively place development, incorporating international approaches and pilot studies, and illustrating best practices in terms of lively place and green space development, linking it to the local rural reality. In creating public and lively green places for rural communities, issues of safety, inequality, sociability and community coherence are addressed. Through the correct corresponding planning initiatives consequently drawn up, overall quality of life of those living in rural communities can be improved, decreasing the social challenges experienced. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The increase in social challenges especially with regards to safety and security experienced in rural communities, as well as the lack of efficient lively places and public green spaces, is predominantly increasing in importance for government and planning policies. This problem is substantiated by the large number of deaths (especially the deaths of children) drowning in rivers flowing through or nearby rural communities because of the lack of any other safe, public facilities and well-managed and maintained green spaces. The research question therefore focuses on whether the planning of lively places and green spaces in rural communities can address some of these social issues, and contribute to the strengthening of communities and creation of lively public places. Government is struggling to deal with social issues (especially that of safety and security) within rural communities and a number of strategies were discussed and drawn up. (For example, the Rural Safety Summit which took place on 10 October 1998 aimed at achieving consensus regarding issues of rural insecurity; as well as crime prevention strategies as defined by the SAPS White Paper on Safety and Security (1998).) However, very little (if any) in-depth research on the possibility of upgrading public spaces into lively green places as a solution, has been done. This study can serve as a link between literature and practical rural issues, as well as contribute to green space and lively place development, incorporating international approaches and pilot studies, and illustrating best practices in terms of lively place and green space development, linking it to the local rural reality. In creating public and lively green places for rural communities, issues of safety, inequality, sociability and community coherence are addressed. Through the correct corresponding planning initiatives consequently drawn up, overall quality of life of those living in rural communities can be improved, decreasing the social challenges experienced. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Le déclin du jeu extérieur dans le contexte urbain se manifeste sous forme d’une épidémie de sédentarisation, d'obésité et de dépression chez les jeunes. Il s’inscrit dans un contexte où, depuis la deuxième moitié du 20e siècle, les efforts des villes pour créer des environnements destinés à l’usage des enfants s’orientent principalement vers la production d’espaces ségrégués et fortement régulés. Aujourd'hui, certaines municipalités adoptent des objectifs d’inclusion et manifestent un intérêt à repenser la place des enfants et de leurs activités sur leur territoire. Ainsi, une meilleure compréhension des pratiques de jeu non structuré et des environnements qui les rendent possibles devient nécessaire. Cette recherche a été réalisée dans une approche d’ethnographie critique, dans la perspective d’une facilitatrice de jeu durant l’été 2021, au sein d’un camp de jour promouvant le jeu non structuré et risqué. Elle prend appui sur l’outil TOPO de cartographie comportementale, ainsi que sur des observations participantes. Menée dans trois espaces publics de Montréal, elle porte un regard critique sur les différents facteurs spatiaux et sociaux influençant le jeu des enfants dans la perspective du concept d’affordance. Elle discute l’influence des caractéristiques physiques de l’espace sur le jeu des enfants, l’influence de la perception du risque chez les adultes supervisant le jeu, les conflits avec les autres usagers de l’espace et l’influence de la gestion et de l’entretien de ces espaces publics, menés dans un souci de régulation et d’aseptisation. Cette recherche tente d’offrir un regard holistique et critique sur les conditions favorables au jeu extérieur dans le contexte montréalais. Elle met en lumière l’importance de la plasticité des lieux, des conventions sociales d’utilisation de l’espace et des « capabilités », pour une meilleure compréhension et un meilleur aménagement d’environnements propices au jeu. / The benefits of play for children are innumerable; however, we are observing a decline in outdoor play in cities, tied to a sedentarization, obesity and depression epidemic in young children. This situation is attracting increasing interest in academic and municipal contexts. Until recently, North American cities’ efforts were limited to the provision of segregated children’s spaces. Now that some cities are ready to rethink the place of play in our cities at a larger scale, it becomes important to better understand urban outdoor play and the environments making it possible. This master’s thesis is based on a critical ethnography conducted as a playworker in a day camp promoting unstructured outdoor play in three green public spaces of Montreal, Canada during the summer of 2021. It explores a variety of physical and social factors influencing children’s outdoor play from a perspective of affordances. It discusses the influence of space characteristics on play, the importance of supervising adults’ perception of risk, the conflicts with other users and the influence of different approaches to management and maintenance of public spaces. This research attempts to offer a holistic and critical view on the adequacy of public spaces in terms of facilitating play, in the Montreal context. It highlights the transgressive nature of play and its confrontation with everlasting regulatory practices of public space management. In an attempt to provide a better understanding of planning spaces that can accommodate unstructured play, it discusses the importance of plasticity of spaces, the social conventions around the usage of spaces and capabilities.

The thesis Urban green spaces and its institutional framework attempts to analyze different cases of urban green spaces foundation and administration in which various public and private entities act. Based on these foundations it tries to come with an overview of the most important forms of provision of greenery in cities. Through research of available literature we came to the understanding that greenery in urban environments is not just a result of municipal service provided by a public authority but to its foundation, administration, financing and maintenance contribute also other entities. The overview created in the thesis is not exhaustive but can serve as an inspiration for various subjects at a time when local public authorities do not have sufficient resources to ensure satisfactory range and quality of public green.