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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2015

The Inherent Politics of Managing the Quality of Urban Green Spaces

Lindholst, Andrej Christian; Sullivan, Sidney George; Konijnendijk van den Bosch, Cecil; Konijnendijk, Cecil; Fors, Hanna

Abstract

Although the term ‘quality’ has a universal positive connotation and typically is framed by a focus on improvements, its application includes as well as excludes the access, values and world views of particular actors and interests. In this article, we highlight the relevance and implications of such ‘inherent politics’ through a case study of a widespread approach to operationalizing quality in urban green space management. We conclude that adoption of any quality model has both limiting and enabling implications for public participation and decision-making and that a critical stance is needed within both research and practice for the development of quality models that connect to values of broader societal relevance.

Keywords

management, politics, public service provision, quality, urban green space

Published in

Planning Practice and Research
2015, Volume: 30, number: 4, pages: 376-392