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This dissertation seeks to examine whether neighborhood public parks have a relationship to neighborhood change, including gentrification outcomes, through the investigation of a city-wide study of the neighborhood parks system in Philadelphia. It addresses the gap in the literature that examines investments in existing neighborhood parks and examines how they effect the surrounding community. In this dissertation, I ask the following research questions: What does a multi-dimensional concept of public park accessibility look like? What effect does proximity to a small neighborhood park have on the demographics and quality of the surrounding built environment? What effect does park quality of small neighborhood parks have on the quality of the surrounding built environment? Four methodological tools were used in this study: analysis of policy documents, Google Street View remote surveying, geographic information system (GIS) analysis, and statistical analysis. This study is the first of its kind that examines existing neighborhood parks, their quality, and the relationship to demographics and development in neighborhoods at a city-wide scale. The findings expand existing green gentrification literature and finds that while parks themselves are associated with gentrification and increased built environment development, the number of amenities in a park is not associated with an increase in the gentrification of the surrounding neighborhood. This key finding opens the door for cities to invest into their existing neighborhood parks without fear that improvements will trigger gentrification and displacement in vulnerable neighborhoods as long as additional policy steps are enacted to keep residents in place. / Geography

This research describes patterns of use in the High Line Park and investigates the relationship between the design of this elevated park and the ways parks like these are utilized. Mixed methods were used for this research, including direct observations and personal interviews. Research was conducted to answer the following questions: first, what are users’ activity patterns in the different sections of the High Line? Second, how do the users’ activity patterns vary at different times of the day? And finally, how do the site layout and the design elements affect the users’ behavior? The results show that the Plaza area and the Lawn area were the most used spaces compared to other spaces that were observed. In conclusion, this study suggests that the design features that are related to planting design, seating areas, and pathways are very important elements to promote activity, as specifically observed in the High Line.

The Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) is the largest and most important conservation area in Guatemala, covering over 21,000 km2. Because the Biosphere Reserve is home to over 58,000 people, environmental stabilization is deeply dependent on residents' use of the land. Initial governmental efforts to reduce migration and deforestation threats included designing land tenure regimes such as private lands, forest concessions and communal concessions in different zones of the Biosphere. Despite these measures, high rates of deforestation continue and are concentrated in Laguna del Tigre and Sierra de Lacandón National Parks. Previous research has shown a connection between land tenure and deforestation, but has not connected these to community well-being indicators. In this project seventy four communities located mainly around both National Parks were categorized into three land tenure regimes: communal, state protected and private. Using ANOVA and regression analysis, the regimes were compared to population, community well-being indicators (education, services, and economy), and analyzed for association with cumulative deforestation from 1986 to 2006. The analysis occurs in two scales or levels–at the level of the community (N = 74) and also at the level of privately owned lands, commonly called "parcels" in Petén (N = 1,510). Results indicate that the three regimes differ in cumulative deforestation and well being indicators, and these differences are statistically significant. Two explanatory regression models at community and parcel level were elaborated. In the first model dealing with community, the variables showing positive associations with cumulative deforestation are population size, cattle ranching, agriculture and alternative economy. The variables showing negative associations are schooling and communal and private regimes. Among the land tenure regimes, communal regime shows the best performance in the period under study, having the highest community well being index and lowest cumulative deforestation when compared to private and protected area regimes. In the second model dealing with households holding private parcels, the variables showing positive associations with cumulative deforestation are family size and total area of the parcel, and the variable showing a negative association is duration of occupation of the farm. Private parcel ownership was evaluated for associations between cumulative deforestation and ethnicity, and no statistically significant differences were found between ladino and Maya farms.

This thesis presents the history of urbanism through the point of view of theevolution of the productive process history from the 􀏐irst Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) to today, as well as a proposal for a development of an area in Trelleborg,Sweden that includes also manufacturing, based on Europan Competition’s 2017theme of “Productive City”. In the 􀏐irst part it presents the history of the industrial erastarting from the 18th century until today though a chronological diagram, includingpolitical, social and technological events, as well as important urban planning ideasand innovative factories. Then proceeds to a more extended presentation of industrialurbanism theory based on theoretical approaches and realized examples. The 􀏐inalpart of the thesis presents a case study of the “productive city”, which includes themasterplan of the area, diagrams for the location of manufacturing and ideas for thetypes of manufacturing that could be included in the urban block. It concludes with􀏐inal consideration about production and the role it can play for a better future.

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Smart city as a concept or term is the contemporary buzzword which is referred as a means to deliver urban sustainability. In recent years, different smart city initiatives have emerged worldwide, which are advocated increasingly by the private and public sectors. However, there has been a considerable amount of critiques by social and urban scholars who question the current understanding and practice of the smart city, raising doubt if the current smart city is sustainable. The most frequently mentioned critiques indicate that the current smart city which does not have a common definition and theoretical foundation is intensively dominated by technical perspective and the role of private sector. This thesis aims to find out how this current understanding and application of smart city concept affect the urban planning practices and urban policy-making. By taking Malmö as a case study and conducting policy analyses, the research shows that this trend leads to the project-based practices which in the absence of strategic and holistic vision toward the smart city as a concept might not fulfil sustainability criteria, cannot be a beneficiary means for sustainable urban planning, and is a poor concept for social sustainability. It shows that although private sector is an integral part of smart city practices, public sector -municipality -needs to take a leadership position in defining smart city based on the real city’s demand and integrate it into the urban planning strategies.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / John W. Keller / This report reviews asset building for communities to promote youth healthy development. It addresses a comprehensive approach to youth development by engaging all members and sectors of a community. Bellevue, Washington is a community nationally recognized for its collective approach to tackling issues faced by their youth. The Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets 1997 Survey showed Bellevue youth possessed less than 50% of the developmental assets necessary to become responsible adults. Since receiving these results, Bellevue has continued working to improve the lives of youth in their community by utilizing the knowledge and resources of community members, organizations, and institutions. For this report, Bellevue’s collective engagement was analyzed to identify which developmental assets youth could obtain through participation, support, and engagement in various community sectors. Bellevue was used as a case study for an asset building community for youth, to determine what makes a great community for youth to live and thrive.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Architecture and Regional and Community Planning / John W. Keller / This report is a reconnaissance analysis of the Topeka, Kansas downtown district to determine a process of rejuvenation. Many office buildings are established in or near the downtown core, and bring an estimated 30,000 employees to the area; however, after 5:00 PM much of the work force leaves the downtown making it difficult for retail and entertainment businesses to stay open. The purpose of this study is to analyze the downtown district of Topeka in terms of its strengths and weaknesses, and determine the steps that must be taken before a process of rejuvenation can occur. To accomplish this, the study examines strategic data such as a workforce profile, location information, public facilities, historical and current demographics of the city, along with specific information on the downtown area such as past and present plans for renovation. This analysis also includes current plans in the downtown and how they might impact the future physical development of the central core of downtown Topeka such as the potential realignment of Interstate 70. The key to making any downtown project a success is to acknowledge the weaknesses and threats of the area and to recast them as potential opportunities and strengths for the area. This is why the study has a building survey and a S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Strengths) analysis.