The Cultural Ecosystem Services of Informal Green Spaces in Deprived Neighborhoods: An In-depth Interview Study

Abstract

In urban areas, informal green spaces (IGS) such as vacant lots and urban brownfields stand as valuable sources of cultural ecosystem services (CES), complementing other formal green spaces like parks and gardens (Kremer, A. Hamstead and McPhearson, no date; Kim, Rupprecht and Furuya, 2018; Luo and Patuano, 2023). IGS can be particularly beneficial for residents in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods by providing accessible green spaces for outdoor activities and social interactions (Sikorska et al., 2020). However, the current research on IGS still lacks insights into residents' perceptions and preferences of CES in the specific context of deprived neighborhoods. This research investigates the potential CES provisioning of an IGS in a deprived neighborhood of Amsterdam. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, this study unveils four themes “positive perceptions”, “negative perceptions”, “desired developments”, and “undesired developments” concerning the CES of case study IGS. These findings are further discussed with the social and environmental characteristics of deprived neighborhoods including a lack of social cohesion, potential antisocial conduct, and residents' negative perception of their neighborhood environment. Additionally, this research yields spatial design recommendations that aim to improve the CES provided by IGS, emphasizing the provision of essential amenities, the facilitation of social-cultural spaces, and the promotion of affection and attachment to the semi-wild landscape features within informal green spaces.