Factors influencing the success of urban green spaces in Sri Lanka

Abstract

One major character of the 21st century from physical planning point of view is the rapid urbanization. It is in fact estimated that by the year 2030 almost half of the Sri Lankan population to be reside in areas designated as urban. In this context public green areas or urban parks have to play a major role. In Sri Lanka, the condition of parks & the contribution they make towards the city & community within which they locate is in no sense of satisfactory. The main objective of this research study is to compare and contrast the conditions, processes, of Sri Lankan parks against a practically successful framework developed by a team of experts on the field of urban greening for the purpose of managing green spaces, parks effectively. The concept is collectively referred to as PHSGCS. (Pennsylvanian horticulture society’s Green city strategy). The concept has being formulated by The national body of United States for managing public lands, The Public Land Trust, and the National horticulture society of United States along with state university of Pennsylvania. Study revealed that the guidelines set forth by PHSGCS as prerequisites for a satisfactory park to be compatible within context of Sri Lanka. As a secondary finding, it can be safely concluded that the criterion given in PHSGCS framework can be used as a set of guidelines to improve and maintain the condition of local parks.