Planning Suburban Public Spaces for Youths

Background information of the idea

Public spaces such as squares, sidewalks, parks, and community sports zones are threatened by the continuous erection of all buildings especially in countries with growing economy such as Canada. Maintenance and redevelopment of such public spaces provides a fundamental foundation for a thriving community (UNICEF, 2014b). A city where youths go to parks to relax, engage in conversation with their peers, take pictures and selfies to rejuvenate there social life provides a basis for a healthy lifestyle (Ryan & Borden, 2006). At the rate which urban development is growing public spaces are becoming more in inaccessible during certain periods of the year. Inaccessibility is due to the rapid population growth that most cities are experiencing currently. There is an ongoing global discussion on what public spaces are (Stiglitz, 2003). Individuals who have been in the leading front to champion for public spaces, which in different countries are considered as green spaces, are the environmentalists. Many people are not aware of what public space entails, and this is a feature that has started to frequently resonate with urban developers of late and cities.

Inclusion of public spaces in urban planning and development can be termed, the “new urbanism,” which has its origins from the United Sates (Crane & Dee, 2001). Urban Planning trends are influenced by local and global dynamics. In other countries such as the United Kingdom, private institutions have come up with their own private spaces which people can utilize at a fee (Carmona, 2019). The “new modern city” incorporates shopping malls, gated communities, and super highways. However, it should be the responsibility of local and regional cities to ensure that such spaces can be accessed easily by anyone from the community irrespective of which background they come from (rich or poor). Public spaces for the youth require something in a physical form, which districts their surrounding from other spaces (Carmona, 2019). Expansion of public parks in the city to incorporate basketball and football pitches, other sport facilities and creative spaces (art) creates an environment that clearly identifies with the youth.  Canada and its cities such as Kitchener, value the growth of youths, and ultimately their plan is to ensure that the required resources are established. Planners ought to be flexible and embrace the evolving role of public spaces for the youth, and how it shapes the community in general..

City’s and Regional official plans goals

The vision of the Kitchener city as stated in the official plan, is “Together we will build an innovative, vibrant, attractive, safe, complete and healthy community contributing to an exceptional quality of life” (City of Kitchener, 2014, pp. 43).In this vision, a healthy community is achieved through easier access to active transportation, community infrastructure, parks and open spaces. Redevelopment and management of public spaces for the youth by the city ensures there is a community that thrives. Creation of public spaces for the youth will create an environment in Kitchener city where individuals can interact with each outside their environments. Moreover, these spaces create a sense of belonging for the youth and this will improve the quality of life of every individual.

Jane Jacobs once said that “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”According to Kitchener city hall outdoor spaces report (2016), the state of existing conditions of various outdoor spaces in city hall was found to be in dilapidated state. Duke Street and Carl Zehr square pavements were cracked and posed a safety concern for the city residents. Grade Changes which were made within Duke Street plaza were found to be inconvenient and making the space inaccessible. Additionally, lack of shades in Carl Zehr Square inhibited its use during the summer months and several street lightings were out of date and required replacement. From the report, it was concluded that some of the facilities did not reflect the city’s vision of a complete and healthy community. It was recommended that the city takes action in coming up with a major design which would transform the city’s outdoor spaces making it vibrant.

Apart from improving the city’s outdoor spaces, the city could opt to build suburban public spaces for the youth to make the city vibrant. Upscale establishment of residential and gated communities excludes people from the surrounding environment. The city should strive to build several youth public spaces in central zones, which are easily accessible different residential blocks. Inclusivity in terms of diversity has also been a trending issue. The 21^st century seeks to include everyone in the community irrespective of their race, gender, sexual orientation, and age. Communities are built in grassroots, and youths are the future of the community. According to a research done by Kovacs (2015), despite cultural attractions being known by the younger people, they are only significant for adolescents while on the other hand, parks and public spaces are vital for the youths (older-age groups).The use of active transport like biking and walking is a common practice for most youths during the summer period while transit is the frequent mode of transport during the winter months (Thomson, 2009). Overall, public spaces directly influence the life of youths.

The population of Kitchener city is forecasted to continue to grow as time goes, and threatens a complete and healthy community if proper planning is not made. The city came up with a plan (up to 2031) to address the issue. One of the solutions is to promote innovation, this is achieved through collaboration and creativity in all levels of the government. Creation of public spaces for the youth will provide solutions for various issues in the city as crime and health. The other solution is to create programs and places that celebrate and recognize the city dwellers culture and diversity. Creation of creative spaces can be used to celebrate the city resident’s culture at the same time fostering community togetherness, which strengthens relations between individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.

One of the nine goals that are aimed at achieving a complete and healthy community is to ensure mix of land uses, employment, and housing types. Youth public spaces ensure there is a mix of land uses for the city of Kitchener. Economic prosperity is another goal which fosters a complete and healthy community. Creation of culture, arts and public spaces of high-quality are vital in the economic development of cities in the 21^st century (Pender, 2019). The city must also invest in building safe pedestrian walks that links vibrant hubs and culture and art centers (Pender, 2019). Developers are expanding residential buildings and currently, most residents look for areas which have supportive environment to bring up a family. If new development areas are to become a success, local and regional cities have to create youth public spaces to attract residents who have youths in their family.

Pros and cons of implementing public youth spaces

A youth public space enhances safety in the neighborhood and within the city (Bravo & Guaralda, 2016). In most cases, these spaces are zones where people tend to run away from their daily problems to relax. In neighborhoods where there is high crime rate, the spaces create a peaceful environment where people can perform their hobbies without fear. Apart from safety the spaces also promotes health fitness. Currently, youths of the 21^st century are suffering from various health issues that are associated with childhood health problems. Some of these diseases are diabetes and obesity occurs as a result of low or no exercise. Youth public spaces that contain football and basketball pitches will ensure that such diseases are dealt with, since prevention is better than cure.

Thirdly, public spaces also enhance social and cultural interaction. The spaces will provide zones where individual can collaborate and interact with each other. They act as ‘self-organising public service’, where experiences and resources are shared, at the same time creating new values (Tims and Mean, 2005). Youths can engage in various activities such as drama and sports to pass time. One can make friends with other youths within the city while at the public space. According to a research done by Seeland, Dübendorfer and Hansmann (2009), they found out that public urban green spaces play a crucial role for youths and children to make contacts with colleagues from different cultures and diversity irrespective of their age, gender school level, and the number of immigrants in a given location. Through such interaction, youths are able to share different perspectives and this helps overcome the greatest global challenge, which is diversity. These venues act as a focal point for starting various conservations such as inclusivity. Interaction of youths from different backgrounds will help them learn one or two things about different communities. Tolerance of multicultural difference leads to the development of a civil society (Malone, 2002). A success in the role that the spaces would play as far as inclusivity is concerned will provide a foundation for the community to continue accommodating each other irrespective of their race, age or gender.

Consequently, improvement of the environment in cities is dependent on public spaces (Bravo & Guaralda, 2016). Most of the parks create a serene environment that has aesthetic value that provides various therapeutic benefits. Rapid population growth in urban centre has caused urban sprawl and if necessary measures are not put in place, there will be decrease in the number of green spaces. It is also important for the rights of young people to be observed since exclusion of people in different zones has been a usual practice (UNICEF, 2014a). However, public spaces are venues where people should readily and access with other people.

Public spaces do play a crucial role in fostering a complete and healthy community but at the same time there are risks of pros involved. For example public places pose a threat of terrorist attack (Mitchell, 2003). Terrorists have always targeted venues that are easily accessible to the public and accommodate a large population. Terrorist may plan to attack a youth public space when organized events take place. However, necessary precaution measures can be put into consideration. The local city municipality may assign different individuals to manage the public youth spaces. Residents are also advised to be vigilant at all times and report any cases of suspicious activities to the relevant authorities. Residents who utilize these public spaces are familiar with each other and it is easy for them to note anyone who is distinct from the group. Additionally, hundreds of surveillance cameras can be installed in all the public spaces, streets and venues which are vulnerable to these attacks.

Another ill associated with youth public spaces is that they can be abused. The homeless, drug peddlers, idlers, and political activists have always used public spaces as central venue to conduct their activities (Mitchell, 2003). These groups misuse of their right to access public spaces. It is difficult to determine who does not have the right to access public spaces but stringent policies should be acquired to manage the public spaces. Political activists can be provided with an alternative venue to drive their agenda, as well as for the homeless. In the case of drug peddlers, the municipality could come up with policies which punishes such offenders by paying a fine and serving a given minimum sentences. Such measures will ensure that the spaces are utilized in the right way. Such policies will also ensure that the safety of the youth is ensured there is no misused by the undesirables (Hajer & Reijndorp, 2001). Overall, there is more good that public spaces offers compared to the ills.

Funding of the project

Development charges

The city can source funds from development charges applied to development projects. Depending on which project seeks the city’s approval, it should be charged based on which public facilities the project would require. The municipality in liaise with the city attorney can defend the development charges by using the Development Charge Act. The Act allows the municipality to charge a reasonable fee before a project is approved, depending on various conditions to carter for the needs the project would require to support. This simply means that the fee is collected and used to establish other infrastructures to avoid overcrowding in other social amenities. Continued development of housing projects and business hubs leads to a rise in urban densities which results in overcrowding in public facilities. If there are parks of sleepwalks, there is need to build other ones to manage the pressure the urban population places on it.

Under the Kitchener’s development charge Act, there is an overview steps that are followed to come up with the amount of development charge. Under development forecast (the first step), one of the service areas is suburban. The forecast is anchored on the population target the development project will influence (City of Kitchener, 2014 April). Based on the city’s previous census, there has been a steady rise of population in the city. A graph could be drawn to estimate the rise in population as a result of the development project. A high increase in population results in long term planning for provision of hard services. For youth public spaces, a charge of 70% cost recovery should be applied. The capital costs deductions.

Public youth space should be included in the outdoor recreation charge, which is administered by Kitchener city under maximum permissible residential charges. Non residential should also be charged a small fee, since the funds will help in building street walks and channels that connects the public spaces to the city. For non residential, the charge should only apply for a period of five years, since the infrastructure to be established will cost a limited amount of funds compared to residential. The city could also seek to apply the charges to fit their own development charges currently being applied. The city could adopt the new charges and present a new set of by development charge by laws in compliance with the Development Charges Act of 1997 (City of Kitchener, 2019). The charges should definitely be effective especially in benefiting areas. Since the charges are incorporated in a ten year planning in the city allows for the money to accrue over a given period of time.

References

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