Proceeding of International Conference on Contemporary Management - 2016 (ICCM-2016), pp 961-976

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE URBAN GREEN SPACES FOR THE CITY SUSTAINABILITY AND ATTRACTIVENESS: A CASE STUDY OF CITY IN NORTHERN PROVINCE OF Mathivathany.V ABSTRACT Development should be based on a balanced and harmonious relationship between social needs, economic activities and the environmental services to achieve sustainability of a city. Accordingly, aspects such as the “amount of urban green spaces per inhabitant, “public parks,” are considered to be of significant strategic importance and it making a city livable, pleasant, and attractive for citizens. This too gives a salutary effect on the growth of the City. Urban green parks serve as places of identity, memory, and belonging, enrich human life with meaning and emotions which is a key component of sustainability. Urban parks play a strategic meaning for the quality of life of our increasingly urbanized society. Jaffna city is a fast growing centre in north part of the country. But attention to the natural components and the green spaces of the urban structure is still poor. Therefore this paper aims to study the importance of urban parks for the sustainability of the city. Both secondary and primary data have been gathered. Primary data have been collected through a survey conducted among visitors of the parks. Questionnaires have been distributed in different hours of the day. Basic descriptive statistics and Multi criteria analysis have been applied in spatially. As a result, the majority (almost 78%) of the respondents indicated dissatisfaction with the services and amount of urban green currently present in the Jaffna. Valuation of these green spaces of urban areas should be integrated into project assessments' procedure and be properly accounted for in policy decisions and urban planning strategies. This study helps to City planners, urban designers and decision makers.

Keywords: Sustainability, City livable, urbanized society, urban planning, Green spaces

1. INTRODUCTION achieve sustainability of a city, development Urban parks play strategic importance should be based on a balanced and which provide important economic, social harmonious relationship between social and environmental services which are needs, economic activities and the crucial significance for the livability of cities environmental services. Accordingly, and the well being of urban citizens. To aspects such as the “amount of urban green

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. [email protected] 961 spaces per inhabitant, “public parks,” are In addition to those, urban recreational space considered to be of significant strategic is developed according to the population importance for improving quality of life and density and extent of urban area in the Sri it making a city livable, pleasant, and Lanka. But Jaffna urban area has 43.7 sq.km attractive for citizens. This too gives a land extent which consisting of 131,768 salutary effect on the growth of the City. population. Based on the Public Outdoor Urban green parks serve as places of identity, Recreational Standard, per 1000 population memory, and belonging, enrich human life 1ha recreational area should be as urban area with meaning and emotions which is a key (Jaffna urban area should be allocated 131 ha component of sustainability. Urban parks are land) but in Jaffna availability of total extent the presence of natural assets of a city. of the parks is 13.98 ha and mini children Nowadays, Jaffna city is a fast growing park and play ground is covering 29.52 ha. centre in north part of the country. For the Finally 43.57 ha land is available for the last three decades, due to the unstable recreational space. Therefore this paper situation that prevailed in the North Sri aims to study the importance of urban nature Lanka, there was no proper plan prepared for of the Jaffna city. the development of the Jaffna City. Now, the city is home to a number of educational, The findings of a major literature review are commercial institutions, minor industrial mentioned relating to the urban parks and its units, banks, bus and railway station, hotels benefits to a city. The review considers and other government institutions. Above material from sources that include peer- 100,000 persons are coming for their day to reviewed literature, library and internet. day activities from within the city as well as Urban green spaces supply to cities with other part of the countries as commuters. ecosystem services ranging from Further, number of domestic and maintenance of biodiversity to the international tourists is also coming as regulation of urban climate. Comparing with tourists in seasonally. In holiday times and rural areas, differences in solar input, rainfall seasonal festival time this number show very pattern and temperature are usual in urban high here. But attention to the green spaces areas. Solar radiation, air temperature, wind of the urban structure is still poor. There speed and relative humidity vary were few plans in related public parks for the significantly due to the built environment in urban area. Greeneries also had been cities (Heidt and Neef, 2008). Urban heat destroyed for many purposes due to effect is caused by the large areas of unbalanced period. Low appreciation of heat absorbing surfaces, in combination of green spaces is also reflected in the high energy use in cities. Urban heat island maintenance of budget of this town. effect can increase urban temperatures by 5°C (Bolund and Sven, 1999). Therefore,

962 adequate forest plantation, vegetation spaces which will contribute to reduce the around urban dweller's house, management overall CO2 by maintaining or even of water bodies by authorities can help to increasing the ability of CO2 absorption via mitigate the situation. Green spaces that natural ecosystem (Huang et al., 2009). feature good connectivity and act as Urban greeneries provide Biodiversity and “wildlife corridors” or function as “urban Nature Conservation benefit to the city. forests”, can maintain viable populations of Green spaces do functions as protection species that would otherwise disappear from centre for reproduction of species and built environments (Haq, 2011; Byrne and conservation of plants, soil and water Sipe, 2010). Regional green space is based quality. (Francis, 1997). A functional on the protection and optimization of natural network of green spaces is important for the ecological system and actually refers to maintenance of ecological aspects of continuous suburban green space of large sustainable urban landscape, with size. It not only improves the whole greenways and use of plant species adapted ecological environment of the city region to the local condition with low maintenance and its neighbors, and provides important cost, self sufficient and sustainable (Loures support of urban environmental et al., 2007). During the past decade improvement. Furthermore, introduction of research on urban biodiversity has become suburban green space into city also acts as momentous not only because of the the base of ecological balance. In practice, increasing impact of urbanization on natural problems of urban woods and citied ecosystems, but also because of the growing agriculture should be paid sufficient recognition of urban areas as hosts for attention (Wuqiang et al., 2012). innovative ways to conserve and promote biodiversity (Savard et al., 2000). The latter Urban greening can reduce air pollutants is illustrated by various global directly when dust and smoke particles are environmental conventions such as the 2002 trapped by vegetation. Research has shown Wo r l d S u m m i t o n S u s t a i n a b l e that in average, 85% of air pollution in a park Development, the 2007 Curitiba Declaration can be filtered (Bolund and Sven, 1999). on Cities and Biodiversity, and the Global Urban green spaces in over crowded cities Partnership on Cities and Biodiversity can largely reduce the levels of noise launched by among others the United depending on their quantity, quality and the Nations Environment Program (UNEP distance from the source of noise pollution. 2012). Researchers have stated that urban For the cities in fast urbanizing and growing parks, due to their often high levels of habitat economy, country like China should diversity and microhabitat heterogeneity, consider the dynamic form of urban can constitute particularly important expanding to manage effective urban green hotspots for biodiversity in the cityscape,

963 albeit their primary role is recreational and 15% depending on the type of project (Cornelis and Hermy, 2004). (Heidt and Neef, 2008).

There are some researchers have been done Urban parks have been viewed as an by researchers related Economic Benefits of important part of urban and community urban greeneries like Energy Savings, water development rather than just as settings for management and Property Value . Plants recreation and leisure. Urban parks have improve air circulation, provide shade and been suggested to facilitate social cohesion they provides a cooling effect and help to by creating space for social interactions lower air temperatures. A park of 1.2 km by (Coley et al., 1997; Van Herzele and 1.0 km can produce an air temperature Wiedemann, 2003; Parr, 2007; Maas et al., between the park and the surrounding city 2009). A study conducted in Helsinki, that is detectable up to 4 km away (Heidt and Finland, indicated that nearly all (97%) city Neef, 2008). A study in Chicago has shown residents participate in some outdoor that increasing tree cover in the city by 10% recreation during the year. Urban green may reduce the total energy for heating and spaces serve as a near resource for cooling by 5 to 10% (Sorensen et al., 1997). relaxation; provide emotional warmth Water management is crucial to cities, (Heidt and Neef, 2008). In Mexico City, the particularly in times of climate change. Bio centrally located Chapultepec Park draws up swales, rain gardens, green roofs and other to three million visitors a week who enjoy a green infrastructure components can help wide variety of activities (Sorensen et al., reduce runoff. Increased infiltration would 1997). Nature and green spaces contribute promote groundwater recharge and evapo directly to public health by reducing stress transpiration from vegetated surfaces, and and mental disorders (Annerstedt et al., thus help to improve climatic conditions in 2012). This is a clear indication that urban the city (Pauleit and Duhme, 2000; Pataki et green spaces can increase the physical and al., 2011). Areas of the city with enough psychological wellbeing of urban citizens. greenery are aesthetically pleasing and Certainly, improvements in air quality due to attractive to both residents and investors. vegetation have a positive impact on The beautification of Singapore and Kuala physical health with such obvious benefits as Lumpur, Malaysia, was one of the factors decrease in respiratory illnesses. The that attracted significant foreign investments connection between people and nature is that assisted rapid economic growth important for everyday enjoyment, work (Sorensen et al., 1997). Indicators are very productivity and general mental health strong that green spaces and landscaping (Sorensen et al., 1997). increase property values and financial returns for land developers, of between 5%

964 Urban parks can play an important role in different scales and parts of the urban parks. attracting tourists to urban areas, e.g., by Urban parks planning and design should aim enhancing the attractiveness of cities and as to produce spaces which are attractive and harmonize to other urban attractions accessible to people, guidance on how best (Majumdar et al., 2011).(Wu et al., 2010) to do this and appropriate tools are needed. mention that within the field of eco-tourism, As per discussed above, There are many defined as responsible travel to natural areas literatures on how to design the Green that conserves the environment and Spaces and how places are used as a place to improves the well-being of local people improve the life of people and city (TIES, 1990), there has been increasing sustainability in internationally and attention to urban ecotourism, defined by the nationally but very less research works are Urban Ecotourism Conference in 2004 as on the green spaces in Northern Province. nature travel and conservation in a city Especially, Quite a number of studies carried environment. Access to urban parks has been out in related eco tourism and parks. There strongly linked to reductions in crime and in are no researches about urban parks analysis particular to reduced juvenile delinquency. in Jaffna City. This is the Knowledge gap of Research supports the widely held belief that this research. In practice, the urban parks and community involvement in neighborhood citied facilities are paid insufficient attention parks is correlated with lower levels of in growing Jaffna City. Therefore this paper crime. In neighborhoods where collective aims to study the importance of urban parks efficacy was strong, rates of violence were for the sustainability of the city. low, regardless of socio demographic composition and the amount of disorder 2. RESEARCH AREA observed. (Sampson, 2001). Planning and Research area is the Jaffna Municipal design, including perceptions of green Council area which consists of Jaffna and space, aesthetic values, the planning and Nallur Divisional Secretariat Divisions' design of green space also are importance. boundary and has 47 G.N Divisions and 23 Public perceptions of different types of wards. This has covered 43.7 sq.km land green space were also evaluated by area and 131,768 persons as the population. (Tyrvainen, 2003), who used forest image Annual population growth rate is 1.2. It evaluation (291 respondents) to determine shows the population density 3986 persons whether aesthetic and ecological values can per a sq.km land. Nearly it has 100,000 be combined in the management of urban persons as the commuter population. 43.57 forests in Helsinki, Finland. This study ha land is available for the urban green showed that pine and birch stands were most recreational space which consists urban preferred. Urban design gives the city a parks, playground and open spaces. Based comprehensible structure, to connect on the urban greeneries, the connection

965 between people and green nature is II. To analysis the existing condition of the important for everyday enjoyment, work green parks in Jaffna City. productivity and general mental health of III.To identify possible places for increasing Jaffna city. Green spaces and landscaping urban green areas within Jaffna M.C area. will help to increase property values and financial returns for land developers. If areas 4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY of the city have enough greenery, that will 4.1Research Design help to increase aesthetically pleasing and When conducting a research, it is important attractive to both residents and investors. to identify the framework for the study.

Figure1: Study Area - Area 3.RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Here, the researcher used the qualitative Main objective of this research is to study the research approach to conduct this research. importance of urban parks for the The researcher believed that he can become sustainability of the city. Based on this main closer to the actors perspective through semi objective, three sub objectives have been structured questionnaire survey and defined to analysis. Those are following, observations. I. To study the important of urban nature of the Jaffna city.

966 Interpretive design was the based paradigm randomly selected among the visitors of the for this research. Here the researcher parks and institutions. 150 Questionnaires focused on how urban green spaces or parks have been distributed to visitors on holidays, are important to city sustainability and weekdays and weekends. 30 Questionnaires checked their nature in Jaffna city context in have been distributed to the Urban Sector practices. Urban or town sector stand of the Officers. The questionnaire addressed researcher was more helpful to conduct the issues, purposes for visiting, satisfaction research. with the amount of green parks, images, and perception of functions. 4.2 Strategy Of Inquiry Qualitative and quantitative study was done As a result of categorization, following with the intention of providing a thick continuum was obtained through the description to the concept of green parks and identified population: city's benefit orientation focus. Qualitative study methodology offers tools for the Out of the total population, 3 time period like researchers to study amalgamated weekdays, weekends and Holidays were phenomenon within their contexts. It selected representing each level of the scale provides the chance to search or explain an for the analysis. Samples were selected aspect in perspective using an array of data purposively using purposive-sampling sources. strategy.

4.3Population, Sample And Sample 4.4 Data Collection And Analysis Selection Both secondary and primary data have been The key population for this study was in the gathered. Primary data have been collected existing urban parks' visitors. Sample survey through a survey conducted among experts has been conducted among Urban Sector and visitors of the Supramaniyam Park, Officers (green parks or urban spaces) and Beach Park and Old Park. Respondents were visitors of the Supramaniyam Park, Beach randomly selected among the visitors of the Park and Old Park. Respondents were

Figure 2: Continuum of resort classification

967 parks and institutions. In addition to the for visiting, satisfaction with the amount of interview method, the researcher used green parks, and perception of function were observation method. Here, the researcher given negative results. However, when we utilized an observation guide to check the look at the important of urban nature of the components of an urban park or greenery. Jaffna city, which is rapid growing urban The study has mainly an exploratory centre in the country in various sectors. Land character. Basic descriptive statistics has value also is increasing day to day due to the been applied to analyze the questionnaires' demand the land for different purposes. data and multi criteria analysis has been Commercial land value is high than other applied based on Accessibility, number of land uses which demand for 50-90 lakes per users, land extent, Activities, availability of lacham and 30 50 lakes per lacham are facilities and Safety measures of the park. values for residential lands.

5. RESULTS AND FINDINGS Population Distribution pattern is This research has given many results in corresponding with the distribution of the related to the green parks in Jaffna urban built up area. Highest densities are observed area. Specially, issues of the parks, purposes in towards Jaffna City in Jaffna District.

Figure 3: Methods of the study

968 High level distribution pattern shows in uses. With the growth of the Jaffna city and study area. In Future, it will change by the peripheral town centers, it is likely that development and commercial activities. the large home garden and agricultural lands ` were converted to high intensity The built up areas are mainly concentrated developments. 100,000 Commuter towards Jaffna City center. A radial pattern populations are visiting per day. Around 500 of the built structures scattered along the local and international Tourists are visiting main arteries. The densely built areas per week. Therefore, adequate measures in include both commercial and residential related green spaces have to be suggested to contain the development into this area.

Figure 4: Population and projected population in Jaffna city

Figure: 5: High Built up pattern and Radial pattern in the study area

969 It is observed that Jaffna City area is the main An important aspect of the urban attraction and high flow pattern in development is urban recreational areas transportation sector for all types of which creating usable public space to the activities including convenient goods, urban areas to enhance the urban friendly shopping goods, luxury goods, Jewelry, environment. At present, Jaffna town is special food items, and entertainment. Main recapturing as major town in Northern important areas and activities are connected Province with rapid urban development by main roads network. Vehicle movement is activities such transport development (Road observed in high level in the city centre and and Trail way) and commercial its surrounding areas. Traffic congestion, development. infrastructure facilities and development activities are conducting in high speed. These all activities require good natural greenery in the city centre for the city sustainability and cleanness.

Figure 5: Existing Parks and its Condition

970 In the consideration of urban recreational Urban entertaining space is the one of major area development, there is only one park in feature in urban enlargement scenario. It front of the Old District Office developed requires the urban breathing space for the (Old park - Children's park) which is able to leisure activities. In Jaffna town, expect old utilize by public specially children. park and Subramaniyam Park there is no Meanwhile, Subramaniyam Park was more urban breathing space or open space to urbanized and in good health functioned attract the opportunity for physical activities around 30 years ago. But at present, its looks to enhance health and well being of the like no man area due to the condition and citizens. actions of the park. There are 87% of the visitors coming mostly in weekends or holiday times to spend time Expect Old Park and Subramaniyam Park, with their children. (Figure 06) Children there are 45 parks and play grounds available parks only are available in the city centre but 28 sites are functioning as Montessori which leads to increase weekend's tourists. level children park with two or three play When asked about the purpose to visit the equipments with their requirement. Rest of parks, analysis shows that there are 56.7% of 19 sites has to be developing as urban the visitors coming mostly to spend time recreational space in terms of the urban with their children. (Figure: 07) aspects.

Table 1: Existing functioning condition of parks

971 the respondents. There is 89% of the visitors feel dissatisfaction on the facilities. (Figure: 08). Most of the visitors say that dissatisfaction of the green parks and services and they just enjoy with their children. 0.7%, 0.3%, 0.1%, 0.03%, 0.9% of the visitors are coming respectively to do walking, to sport, to do the exercise, to eat and to sit with their children. The majority (almost 89%) of the responses indicated Figure 6: Visiting time of the people dissatisfaction with the amount of urban green currently present in the city. The recreational dimension was identified in good quality of the fact that the experience of nature is source of positive feelings, which re-create the spirit. These aspects are very low level in Jaffna City centre. The emotional, physical and recreational experiences are perceived as a very law range (23%). There are 87% of the experts say that there are no green places to get the fresh air and outside pictures, sun shine, feel Figure 7: Visiting purpose of the people nice weather, look the fauna and flora 95 % of the experts in related town sectors aspects, and get the best view or sense of say that no green places to relax, fulfill spaces. mental and physical enough to breathe the city. 92% of the experts says that services and features of existing parks also is limited and these limited green parks and spaces increase the social violence such as child abuse and cultural mistreatments.

Satisfaction level on facilities of People such as toilets, paying equipments, food shops, Water connection, waste management system, Playing things, seeing items, buying things and benches are questioned to Figure 8: Facilities satisfaction of people

972 new development area has been identified as urban park. Suitable Places for establishing the Green Parks in Urban Area of Jaffna have been identified based on the multi criteria such as neighborhood level, Accessibility, ownership of the land, number of users, compatible users, land extend, connectivity of the roads and other infrastructure facilities. Suitable places were identified in the study area based on scoring and weight Figure 9: Perception of function age methods. Finally, it was ranked and There are 64% of the visitors get upset about selected most suitable places for the new satisfaction on park condition and feelings. green development as urban parks. Totally Feeling contrastiveness from the city, there are 25.792 Ha land was identified for getting nice experiences, leaving with good the park development through the analysis. feelings and memorizing the enjoyable According to those, Fort inside and outside places are very less level about the Jaffna areas and its surrounding areas, vacant land Greeneries or parks (Figure: 09). of Narikkundu Kulam, Manthirimanai area and vacant land in Rasavinthoddam areas Finally, Based on the multi criteria analysis,

Table 2: Multi criteria analysis for the suitable area

973 The finding indicates that there is a need to In addition to these the following develop green parks and identify new green recreational facilities should be re- spaces with the city which will give established. P.S Subramaniyam Children important contribution to people's well Park should be also reflecting the cultural being and city's sustainability. background of the community, for which purpose statues with educational relevance 6. CONCLUSION should be installed. Beach Park should be In the context of this study, the role of urban redesigned for planting more proper trees parks as provider of social services and their and providing facilities. (Nallur Kiddu Park) importance for city sustainability has been Sangiliyan Park has to be rehabilitated and addressed. Existing condition of urban modernized with whole facilities such as greeneries and suitable places for the new walkways, greeneries, sports tools, urban green parks also have been identified. shopping facilities to make them suitable for We can understand that there is important recreation and relaxation. There has to be need to allocate more land as the greeneries initiated the Old Park as a botanical garden. as the urban park for the city sustainability. Other children parks also have to be The findings suggest the need to use a broad developed as urban recreational space in conceptual framework for considering the terms of the urban aspects. In the interests of relationship between personal purposes, the the students, especially the scouts' natural environment, and individual well movement, this proposal has to be being. implemented. An Open Park has to be established at the public walk from

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