The planning and development of child-friendly green spaces in urban South Africa
type: CreativeWork
description: The impact that urban green spaces in urban environments have on the sustainability and quality of life of the residents is phenomenal (Atiqul & Shah, 2011:601; UrbSpace, 2010; Levent et al, 2004:1). The local reality in South Africa confirms that green spaces in urban environments are decreasing because of growing populations and increasing urbanization (Statistics South Africa, 2013:2). This study aims to investigate the planning of and provision for green spaces in the urban environment, along with the benefits that such spaces can provide to communities by focusing on the aspect of child-friendliness. The planning of child-friendly spaces is no new phenomena in the international context, but however, limited in local context. This research aims to investigate the concept of child-friendly spaces, along with theoretical aspects and international best practices, in order to be able to evaluate the current South African approach (and legislative support) of the planning of such spaces within urban green spaces. This study evaluated the planning and implementation of child-friendly spaces in the urban environment of the city of Durban, Republic of South Africa. It is based on the theoretical background investigating concepts such as open spaces, green spaces and child-friendly spaces. The importance of planning for green spaces and as such, child-friendly green spaces were also elaborated on. Two international case studies were identified as best-practice cases and included in this research, namely Mullerpier child-friendly public playground in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Kadidjiny Park in Melville, Australia. The aim was to determine how these child-friendly spaces were planned and developed and to identify tools that were used to accomplish the goal of providing successful child-friendly green spaces. Planning approaches of the two international case studies illustrated the need and importance of planning for such spaces and how it should be implemented to ens…
abstract: The impact that urban green spaces in urban environments have on the sustainability and quality of life of the residents is phenomenal (Atiqul & Shah, 2011:601; UrbSpace, 2010; Levent et al, 2004:1). The local reality in South Africa confirms that green spaces in urban environments are decreasing because of growing populations and increasing urbanization (Statistics South Africa, 2013:2). This study aims to investigate the planning of and provision for green spaces in the urban environment, along with the benefits that such spaces can provide to communities by focusing on the aspect of child-friendliness. The planning of child-friendly spaces is no new phenomena in the international context, but however, limited in local context. This research aims to investigate the concept of child-friendly spaces, along with theoretical aspects and international best practices, in order to be able to evaluate the current South African approach (and legislative support) of the planning of such spaces within urban green spaces. This study evaluated the planning and implementation of child-friendly spaces in the urban environment of the city of Durban, Republic of South Africa. It is based on the theoretical background investigating concepts such as open spaces, green spaces and child-friendly spaces. The importance of planning for green spaces and as such, child-friendly green spaces were also elaborated on. Two international case studies were identified as best-practice cases and included in this research, namely Mullerpier child-friendly public playground in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Kadidjiny Park in Melville, Australia. The aim was to determine how these child-friendly spaces were planned and developed and to identify tools that were used to accomplish the goal of providing successful child-friendly green spaces. Planning approaches of the two international case studies illustrated the need and importance of planning for such spaces and how it should be implemented to ens…
author: Goosen, Zhan
language: en
keywords: Child-friendly spaces, Green spaces, Urban area, Built environment, Open spaces
date published: 2014
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:33:47Z
provider: North-West University (South Africa)
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: North-West University

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/10394/15248