Perceptions and Use of Green Public Space by Young Families and Children in Gentrifying Neighbourhoods of Barcelona

(Re)development of public spaces in order to improve liveability may contribute to undesirable neighbourhood change including gentrification or excessive tourism. The creation of new green spaces – sorely needed in many neighbourhoods – may also be accelerating gentrification processes. Young families and children are residents that are highly affected by neighbourhood change, but understudied. This study will measure how use and perspective of public spaces may vary across gentrified neighbourhoods in the population of young families and children. A combination of observational methods, surveys, and interceptinterviews will be used to assess quantitative and qualitative differences among families at three sites of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain), a city undergoing dramatic public space re-design. I hypothesize that each stage of gentrification will present different and distinct patterns of use, perceptions, and well-being by young children and families. My research will inform future planners of the many unequally distributed social consequences that may come as a result of seemingly ‘a-political’ implementation of liveability and greening plans

Faculty Supervisor:

Jordi Honey-Roses

Student:

Partner:

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public Service, Policy, and Governance; Sustainability & the Environment; Other

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: