UCLG PUBLIC SPACE POLICY FRAMEWORK BY AND FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Illustrations: October 2016 FOREWORD: PUBLIC SPACES KEY PUBLIC SPACE POLICIES MATTER FOR THE UCLG OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE ON URBAN STRATEGIC PLANNING CONTENTS P. 04 P. 11 01. Public space and social CONTEXT policies The right to the city Housing Gender equality Safety P. 12 02. Governance and participation Actors-led and plan-led P. 05 P. 18 WHAT IS A PUBLIC SPACE 03. Public space and the natural environment POLICY FRAMEWORK? Health and well-being Food security Natural environment and sustainability P. 20 04. Public space and accessibility P. 08 Mobility Technology P. 25 PUBLIC SPACES: THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS 05. Identity and culture P. 30 06. Public space and economic policies Economic opportunities Urban renewal Financial policies P. 09 P. 33 4 UCLG PUBLIC SPACE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOREWORD: PUBLIC SPACES MATTER FOR UCLG city resilience. Our streets have been gradually changing over time from spaces dedicated to mobility to areas used for people to gather and interact. Communities organize markets, fairs, and activities such as cycling events, to name a few. WE AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE JOSÉ FORTUNATI WORLD find ourselves at very interesting times, •DURBAN: The Durban experience on public Mayor Porto Alegre whilst we face severe challenges and crises, we space varies across the different departments also are energised by the prospect of the New that we have. One of the experiences that we ZANDILE GUMEDE Urban Agenda and the critical role that local share with our international counterparts is Mayor Ethekwini governments would play in achieving the the policy for street vending which reflects a Municipality (Durban) Sustainable Development Goals. As local continuous process of negotiations between governments, we have a clear responsibility for the public and private interest in the use of promoting development that is sustainable and our public spaces. The city has a clear strategy an urban future that is brighter and prosperous that promotes and encourages local economic for all. development opportunities in public spaces which is based on an appropriate mix of policy, As we move ahead, it is apparent that the planning and regulations. The city has also immediate surrounding environment recently embarked on an ambitious and very influences the well-being of all citizens, successful program of developing seven new including vulnerable groups. Public parks in seven days. Public spaces in our city is spaces are a common good, a public asset seen to be a catalyst for social cohesion, which of high value with a direct impact on the is one of the city’s long term strategic priority. quality of life of citizens. Building on our responsibility, urban policies should be The Committee on Urban Strategic Planning developed at the local government level to has been actively involved over the past 6 address people’s needs. years influencing the development of the New Urban Agenda. For the coming years, we hope As part of our commitment as co-presidents to consolidate all the progress achieved, be of the UCLG Committee on Urban Strategic open to new challenges and possible solutions, Planning, we have always strived to connect and keep on sharing our experiences in an the global urban agenda to our cities’ realities ongoing learning process worldwide. We and engage in dialogues and campaigns in our would also like to encourage cities to actively cities across our networks. Public spaces provide use this policy framework to inform the an immediate opportunity for local government development, review and/or the amendment leaders to share and learn from others. of their localized public space policies or other policies which can have a public space • PORTO ALEGRE: Our extensive experience in component (e.g. climate change action plan participatory practices, mostly in the areas of can have a public space component, etc.). Our public space development, allows us to testify to cities have benefitted immensely through the the value of promoting democratic interactions development of the policy framework and we in our city. Transparency is a key principle in the would like this framework to energize local city’s management model, accounting for the governments globally in order to develop strategic and transversal role of public spaces policies that promote people centred public in urban policies and our recent strategy around spaces. foreword / CONTEXT 5 context The policy framework was developed through intensive engagement sessions between the Urban Strategic Planning Committee and its partners, which is indicated in the graphic above. The framework incorporated lessons of learning exchanges in three cities (Blantyre, Durban and Porto Alegre), sector specific engagements, engagement with key strategic partners, activation and advocacy at key global events highlighting the importance of public space. THE UCLG COMMITTEE ON URBAN STRATEGIC their common natural and cultural richness PLANNING has over the past years actively and a foundation of their identity.” The Charter contributed to the development of global policy of Public Space4 and advocacy on public space. This was facilitated SDG 03 by organizing learning events in Durban1, Porto In 2015, the role of public spaces in sustainable Alegre2 and Blantyre3, hosting side events at the development received unprecedented UN-Habitat Thematic Meeting on public space recognition by the international community by in Barcelona, partnering with HealthBridge including a target to “provide universal access to and the Rockefeller Foundation on Public Space safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public SDG 05 Development. Key inputs were also shared with spaces, in particular for women and children, members and partners who participated in the older persons and persons with disabilities” in engagement process leading to the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the Global Public Space Toolkit by UN-Habitat, Target 7 of SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and as well as the Charter of Public Space led by Human Settlements. Beyond the recognition the National Urban Planning Institute of Rome in target 7, public space is a key component to SDG 06 (Instituto Nazionale di Urbanistica, INU). One achieve a number of the other SDGs such as 3, of the key outcomes of the interaction with the 5, 6 and 13. Localizing and implementing all partners was to develop an all-encompassing the SDGs, with special emphasis on SDG 11, will definition of public space: depend on local governments across the world and the support offered to them. SDG 13 “Public Spaces are places publicly owned or of public use, accessible and enjoyable, by all The United Nations is committed to the inclusion for free and without a profit motive. Public of SDG 11 into the New Urban Agenda that will be spaces are a key element of individual and agreed upon during the Habitat III Conference in social well-being, the places of a community’s Quito in October 2016. UN-Habitat is proposing a SDG 11 collective life, expressions of the diversity of set of targets for the amount of land allocated to 1 « Searching for the promised land of public space, the key to an equitable city ». June 2014, Durban. 2 « Public space and citizenship ». October 2014, Porto Alegre. 3 « Public space as a generator of growth in African cities ». December 2015, Blantyre. 4 GARAU, P. LANCERIN, L. et. SEPE, M. The Charter of Public Space. 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