Green Pocket spaces strategy for active and inclusive communities in Muscat.

Abstract

Oman National Spatial Strategy has identified that the lack of green pocket spaces evenly distributed in residential neighborhoods is one of the main factors curbing citizens' engagement in a more active lifestyle. Small scale green spaces, and neighborhood parks are easier to access than Bigger Parks, where the city council has concentrated the resources lately. The crucial advantage of Neighborhood parks over other types of public open spaces is that they are more socially inclusive. Taking children to the playground is an important argument to motivate women to use public spaces. We developed a comprehensive method for this study employing a combination of site analysis methods, including microscale urban environmental audits, and short questionnaires in seven neighborhoods of Muscat. The methodology works with two different components -first, the access of the neighborhood to the central area designated for the park, and secondly, the environmental qualities of the park itself. We found that none of the studied cases present acceptable environmental quality needed to support the activities of the residents. In particular, they fail to provide the necessary types of equipment and services to attract different demographics. In addition, the streetscape of the most studied areas presents severe barriers for pedestrians along the way to the park. Enabling residents to walk to the park instead of driving is essential to providing universal access. Finally, we claim that Oman urges to create a comprehensive policy based on community-led initiatives with attention to socialinclusive spatial development to provide adequate recreational areas in the residential districts. We propose a set of recommendations to guide a program to regenerate neighborhood parks, making them active and socially inclusive places.