Green Spaces and Their Social Functions: Specific Challenges in Urban Spaces of Arrival

Abstract

Urban green spaces fulfil multiple functions. Next to their function as areas for leisure, recreation, perception of nature or improvement of physical and mental health, they are also operating as spaces of social contact, encounter, communication and interaction. This social function of urban green spaces becomes a challenge in heterogeneous neighbourhoods where many different groups of residents having different backgrounds of origin, socialization and social daily routines and practices live together and use the same public space. This looks at the social functions of urban green spaces in heterogeneous urban areas, so-called urban spaces of arrival how we find them in many European cities, with a focus on encounter, communication and interaction.