What is urban green space accessibility? : Understanding actors' perspectives through the case of Järvafältet, Stockholm

Abstract: The UN projects that by the year 2050, almost 70% of the world’s population will reside in urban areas. Urbanites require a great deal of ecosystem services, such as accessible green spaces for recreation and health. In the regional development plan for Stockholm (RUFS), it is stated that there is a need to balance the growth of the region and increased pressure on infrastructure development with the preservation and strengthening of the regional green structure and increasing its accessibility. Many actors are involved in the processes surrounding this issue, having the ability to indirectly and directly steer the development in different directions. The aim of this thesis was to improve the understanding of how actors on three different levels, connected to cultural ecosystem services and recreation in the area of Järvafältet, Stockholm, understand and use the concept of accessibility to green spaces. This was meant to create a clearer understanding of how different ways of working with the concept of accessibility to green spaces, and on different scales, can affect who is able to gain benefits from said green spaces. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 8 actors on three levels, as well as structured observations. The results of the study showed that there was a consensus that green space accessibility was seen as important, but that the understanding of the term varied due to implicit assumptions as well as conflicts between accessibility and ecological values. Green space accessibility emerged as a somewhat politically loaded subject, connected to quality of life and (in)justices stemming from urban planning and governing processes. Furthermore, although all respondents in the study aspired to create positive change regarding green space accessibility, the governing of green spaces was restricted by both economic resources and an institutional set up. The study showed that there was potential for more intra- and inter-communication about green space accessibility in relation to other issues, such as ecology. It was recommended that a concretized definition of the term green space accessibility should be added to strategic planning- and policy documents, as well as increased usage of intra- and interorganizational networks to tackle issues connected to green space accessibility.