Urban green spaces such as neighbourhood parks and playgrounds hold significance because they offer services and benefits related to human health and wellbeing. Despite recognition of these services by scientists, conservationists, and policy makers, these spaces in many urban areas face pressure and threat to their presence. Especially in developing countries where urban green spaces are inadequately managed, and often encroached upon, thus resulting in loss of quality. While local authorities have historically been responsible for managing urban green spaces, lately there is an increased involvement of citizens in green space management. It is therefore relevant to study how citizens contribute to managing these spaces and ensure their continuity and quality.
The study here follows the Open Space Strategic Management approach, described as a complex process comprising of three different levels: strategic–formulation of policy, objectives, and targets; tactical– formulation of time bound plans; and operational–actual actions on these plans to maintain and upkeep the space. The conceptual approach has been operationalised to the area of East Delhi, citing Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) as a working example of the citizen organisation responsible for green space management. The research specifically focuses on the operational level and tries to explore their contribution towards the maintenance of these spaces.
For this purpose, interviews were conducted with the presidents of these organizations (N=34), and information was collected about the actions undertaken by RWAs that constitute as green space maintenance, and their subsequent perceived influence on the green space quality. The findings suggest that for East Delhi, action such as arrangement of financial support in taking care of the local space is a major contribution by the RWAs that have higher influence on the perceived quality of space in terms of being visually appealing. Other actions such as providing guidance, raising up park related issues, and manual help have selective effect on the space being perceived as of good quality in terms of aspects such as user safety, cleanliness in the park space, and in creation of recreational opportunity in the green space for all users.
The results from this study will contribute towards the body of literature on role of local citizens and citizen organizations taking part in management of smaller green spaces. The outcomes of this study can be utilized for recommending a comprehensive participatory strategy and design guidelines for green space management in the study area, especially for smaller spaces such as neighborhood parks. This should also contribute towards creation of knowledge to work towards achieving safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable green spaces as mentioned in UN Sustainable Goal 11, and the New Urban Agenda.:1. Introduction 3
1.1. Background 3
1.2. Problem 5
1.3. Structure of the thesis 8
1.4. Intended audience 9
2. Literature Review 11
2.1. Urban Green Spaces 12
2.1.1. Multi-functionality of Green Spaces: Ecosystem Services 24
2.2. Green Spaces and the New Urban Agenda 26
2.3. Green Spaces in Delhi- planning and design 29
2.3.1. Planning: Master Plan of Delhi 30
2.3.2. Design: CPWD landscape guidelines 40
2.3.3. The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994. 41
2.3.4. Gaps in provision 41
2.4. Urban Green Space Management 42
2.4.1. Global Management approaches 42
2.4.2. Green Space Management in Delhi 49
2.5. Theoretical framework 52
2.5.1. Maintenance of green spaces 53
2.6. Summary of the chapter 57
3. Research Hypothesis 59
3.1. Working hypotheses 61
4. Study Area 65
4.1. East Delhi District 68
4.1.1. Civic Boundaries 68
4.1.2. Colony Structure 70
4.1.3. Land Use Pattern 73
4.2. Target group 75
4.3. Summary of the chapter 78
5. Methodological Approach 79
5.1. Survey Interviews 79
5.2. Sampling 80
5.3. Questionnaire Design 82
5.4. Data collection 83
5.4.1. Field work preparation 83
5.4.2. In the Field 84
5.5. Data Analysis 85
5.6. Validity, Reliability and Objectivity of results 86
5.7. Limitations 87
5.8. Summary of the chapter 89
6. Results 91
6.1. Descriptive results 91
6.1.1. Age Category 91
6.1.2. Work Situation 92
6.1.3. Highest level of education received 93
6.1.4. RWA functioning 93
6.1.5. Preferred way of contribution to the maintenance process 97
6.1.6. Preferred reason for involvement in the maintenance process 100
6.1.7. Perceived condition of the local green space 102
6.1.8. Perceived condition of their local green space in terms of safety 106
6.1.9. Desired Improvements to the local park 109
6.2. Hypothesis Testing and Measure of Association 112
6.2.1. Functionality of the equipment for creation of recreational opportunity 112
6.2.2. Cleanliness 115
6.2.3. Upkeep of vegetation 118
6.2.4. Safety 120
6.2.5. Perceived quality 123
6.3. Summary of the results 125
7. Discussion 129
7.2. Resident Welfare Association an example of active citizenship 129
7.3. RWA as a care taker of the local green spaces 131
7.4. Influence of RWA actions on the local green space 135
8. Conclusion 137
8.1. RWA perspective to maintenance 137
8.2. Implications for Green Space Development 139
8.3. Future Research 143
8.4. Theoretical Implications 144
8.5. Contribution of this thesis 146
8.5.1. Contribution to gap in literature 146
8.5.2. Contribution to Landscape Architecture 147
8.5.3. Contribution to Policy Development 147
9. Bibliography 149
Appendix A: Questionnaire 175
Section A: Description of Resident Welfare Association 175
Section B: Involvement in maintenance of local green spaces 177
Section C: Outcomes of RWA actions and activity on the quality of local green space 180
Appendix B 185
Invite 185
Support Letter 186
Appendix C 187
Table depicting administrative structure in territory if Delhi 187
Civil Society in Delhi: Bhagidari 188
Appendix D: Maps of sub areas under East district 189
Appendix E: Examples of Citizen Participation in other cities in India. 191
Appendix F: Statistical Test Values 193
Appendix G 198
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:35503 |
| Date | 26 September 2019 |
| Creators | Ranjha, Shikha |
| Contributors | Wende, Wolfgang, Lohaus, Irene, Technische Universität Dresden, Leibniz-Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung (IÖR) |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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