the future of public space iii: alderman walker

Future of Public Spaces III: Who owns the space?

Alderman Belinda Walker

8thJune 2016

Divisions along function

Changing Ideals

Prioritizing Control

Divisions along race

Stand up for Crossroads

New Perspectives

The recovery from Sprawl

A DIFFERENT CITY

Do we trust ourselves and our young people enough to create a city for them that we cannot control? (Edgar Pieterse, Cape Town 2025Conference)

Space Rich –

Cash Poor

From providing spaces

To Facilitating activity

Rationalise

• Surplus POS in Mitchell’s Plain (700 spaces – 300 needed as parks)

Public spaces – the basics

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SafetyAnd

SecurityAccessibility Multi-

functional

Community needs driven

Safety And Security

Accessibility

Multi-functional

Community Needs Driven

Realistic

Varying Sizes

Theft and Vandalism

Cost of replacement/repair

R5.5million (general) + R4million (protest action)

Cost of Security: Hardening Facilities

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10% of Capital budget: R15million

3x synthetic soccer fields

3x spray parks

Cost of Security Personnel

R80million

City Surgery: Top down planningCommunity Action Plans: Developmental Approach

Change planning approach

Lack of Creativity: Need for collaboration

vs

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Where are we now?

Added 2011-2016

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10 000 ha open space

What spaces exist

Nature Reserves [40%]

Parks [20%]

Ball Sports [20%]

Non Ball Sports [4%]

What people want

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Active Recreation

Arts and Crafts/

Indoor activities

Dance and Music

Formal Sport [7%]

+ Table Mountain National Park and the Coastline

Smart Parks

Valhalla Park Family Recreation

Centre

Active Recreation

Spray Parks, Skate Parks and Artificial Turfs

The Power of 10

Internal Challenges

That’s not my job Spread too thin

Who should manage public spaces?

The City = the owner?The public = the users?

Public groups = activity specialistsCity + Public + Groups = Partnership

External Challenges

How do you provide public spaces in an informal settlement?

What are the new building blocks?

Working with small spaces

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Communication Breakdown: Public-Private Collaborations

Short Term & Long Term view

Ideas & Risk

Common Sense & Compliance

You need

• Information on existing opportunities

• A variety of attractive opportunities

• Un-complicated processes

We need

• Long Term Partnerships:

– Enhancement and Activation of public space

Dialogue

Knowledge

Opportunities

Next Generation Urban Environments

Facilitating contributions

Cultures & Climates differ all over the world, but people are the same. They’ll gather in public if you give them a good place to do it (Jan Gehl)

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