The green infrastructure of our city includes public, designed and demarcated areas, as well as informal and unplanned vegetation areas-informal green spaces. These spaces account for a large part of the urban green space. However, a recent study found that they are usually one of the most overlooked urban spaces, which may lead to negative perceptions.
However, informal green spaces have greatly improved people’s liveability, residents’ health and social well-being, and are an untapped opportunity. Especially in low socio-economic areas lacking formal green spaces, improving the conditions of informal green spaces can promote their use and enhance the livability of communities.
We can’t waste green space
Green space is an important indicator to measure the quality of life in cities and suburbs. They are proven to have a wide range of positive effects, and for residents, their benefits include physical, mental and social health and well-being. Multiple environmental benefits include ecosystem services, improved microclimate and reduced air pollution, and biodiversity conservation.
Because of these benefits, the government has invested a lot of money in greening projects or improving green spaces. Sometimes these interventions include informal green spaces to increase their accessibility, use, and potential benefits to residents.
The upstream Stone River Creek is an urban waterway restoration project in western Melbourne, which is a good example. This work will soon transform concrete drains separated from residents into accessible urban wetlands and parks.
Residents’ views and uses
Researchers from the Centre for Clean Air and Urban Landscape (CAUL) at RMIT University investigated residents’ perceptions and use of the upper rock flow and adjacent informal green spaces before the intervention began.
Interviews with residents revealed that the overall impression of the site is negative. The vast majority of people commented on the bad features of the website.
Lack of regular maintenance, inconvenient transportation, insecurity and littering are their main concerns. Safety issues include natural hazards such as the presence of snakes (which are encouraged due to lack of regular maintenance), crime and local drug trade. These issues affect when and how residents use the site.
Negative views indicate that residents expect intervention. They believe that this will improve informal green spaces and surrounding areas.
Despite doubts, residents found the value of activities, such as dogs found in the area, which are usually found in formal green spaces. They also use it for less typical practices, such as riding a motorcycle. The lack of restrictions on these spaces prevents them from being used in formal urban spaces.
In fact, residents appreciate the sense of exploration, informality, and distance from urbanization provided by the site.
Informal green spaces are filling niche markets that more formal green spaces cannot satisfy. This means that where possible, interventions to transform informal green spaces should take into account the residents’ current use of these areas.
Make sure the work improves these spaces
Our research results highlight the importance of considering and understanding residents’ views and concerns about informal green spaces in order to provide information for these spaces.
Our case studies show that small interventions aimed at addressing major issues (such as lack of maintenance and safe passage) can increase the use of informal green spaces without resorting to formalization of the space. In fact, understanding the needs and expectations of residents may lead to more cost-effective interventions without compromising the informal nature of such areas.
Each informal green space will have its own characteristics and characteristics, and residents’ views on this will also be unique. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of these places and the life experiences and concerns of residents through in-depth consultation is very important to ensure that interventions can meet the needs and expectations of the community.
A thorough understanding of how to use informal green spaces or why not use them can provide planners and decision makers with interventions so that they can intervene in such spaces to increase the livability of urban communities.
