Public Space and Quality of Life: A Case Study of Mount Lavinia Beach Authors Debra Efroymson, MSc. (Harvard) Udan Fernando, Ph.D. (Amsterdam) Advisor Dr. Jagath Munasinghe Head, Department of Town & Country Planning University of Moratuwa Mount Lavinia, July 2013 Table of Contents Photo credits ................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ iii Authors’ credentials ...................................................................................................................... iv Notes by co-authors ......................................................................................................................... iv Foreword ............................................................................................................................................ v 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 2. What Makes a Great Public Space? ...................................................................................... 5 3. Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 6 4. What We Did (Methodology) ............................................................................................... 6 4.1 Site selection ................................................................................................................................ 6 4.2 Research tools ............................................................................................................................. 7 4.3 Study design ................................................................................................................................. 7 4.4. Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 8 4.5 Study limitations .......................................................................................................................... 8 5. What We Discovered (Findings) ........................................................................................... 9 5.1. Beach audit (Observation of Mount Lavinia Beach) ................................................................. 9 5.2. User survey ................................................................................................................................. 12 5.3 Activity audit .............................................................................................................................. 27 Activity by time ............................................................................................................................ 27 Activity by sex .............................................................................................................................. 30 Activity by age group ................................................................................................................... 30 Differences by day ........................................................................................................................ 33 Other activities ............................................................................................................................. 35 5.4 Key informant interviews .......................................................................................................... 36 Beach users ................................................................................................................................... 36 Interview with S.V.D. Kesarralal Gunasekera ............................................................................... 39 6. Discussion and Recommendations .................................................................................... 39 6.1 Important elements of Mount Lavinia Beach ........................................................................... 40 Access ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Visual and other appeal (smells, sounds)..................................................................................... 42 Ability to use the space as one wishes ......................................................................................... 42 Catering to a diversity of users .................................................................................................... 43 Vendors ........................................................................................................................................ 43 6.2 Benefits to the users ................................................................................................................. 44 6.3 Changes that would encourage more people to use the beach, or to use it more often ..... 46 Lighting ........................................................................................................................................ 46 Cleanliness .................................................................................................................................... 46 Safety ........................................................................................................................................... 47 Amenities ..................................................................................................................................... 47 6.4 How can these lessons be applied to other parks in Colombo/Sri Lanka .............................. 48 7. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 51 Appendix 1: Suggested Further Reading on Public Spaces and Related Urban Issues ...... 53 Appendix 2: Research Tools ................................................................................................... 55 Activity Survey ................................................................................................................................. 55 User Survey ...................................................................................................................................... 56 Key Informant Interview Question Guide ...................................................................................... 60 i List of Tables Table 1: Sex of respondents .................................................................................................................. 12 Table 2: Age of respondents................................................................................................................. 13 Table 3: Place of residence .................................................................................................................. 14 Table 4: Frequency of visits to the beach ............................................................................................ 15 Table 5: From where do visitors usually travel? ................................................................................... 15 Table 6: Mode of travel to the beach ................................................................................................. 16 Table 7: Mode of travel by frequency of visit ...................................................................................... 17 Table 8: Length of trip to the beach .................................................................................................... 17 Table 9: Whether visit alone or with others; with whom .................................................................. 18 Table 10: When people prefer to come to the beach ........................................................................ 19 Table 11: Whether people buy from vendors and restaurants .......................................................... 20 Table 12: Condition of the beach .......................................................................................................... 21 Table 13: Whether respondent has witnessed or encountered a serious problem at the beach .... 23 Table 14: Perception of safety ............................................................................................................. 23 Table 15: Desired amenities ................................................................................................................. 25 Table 16: Activities by time and day .................................................................................................... 33 Table 17: Activity by segment of beach, 7-8 am, Sunday ................................................................... 35 Table 18: Activity by segment of beach, 6-7 pm, Sunday ................................................................... 36 Table 19: Typical problems and solutions ........................................................................................... 50 List of Figures Figure 1: Sex of respondents ................................................................................................................ 13 Figure 2: Age of respondents ............................................................................................................... 13 Figure 3: Place of residence ................................................................................................................