Abstract:
This paper starts from the debate with 'the problem of the simplistic notion that
more green spaces are required when density is increased is that it does not
consider the characteristics of people living in higher density environments'. In
Dhaka, a critical imbalance has been observed between users' need and
aspiration of the urban green space use and the available quantity they benefit
from. The City possesses only 0.12 acres greeneries and open areas per thousand
population, while it needs to devote a range between 6.25 and 10.5 acres of
total open space per thousand population, according to NRPA (National
Recreation and Park Association recommendation). With the phenomenal rise in
the level of urbanization and urban growth, the City suffers the loss of its
precious open space for urban infill. And the gap between the amount of open
space required for a healthy living and the amount of open space available
continues to widen. As the City is densely developed, it leaves little scope to have
more open spaces inside. Consequently, concentration should be paid in
retaining, up keeping and exploiting the potentials of existing urban open spaces,
greeneries, and lakesides and improve their quality for urban life. This paper
analyzes the urban green space use and their potentials by a correlational study
between DHANMONDI Lake & Lakeside Green Spaces and HATIRJHEEL &
Lakeside Green Spaces. And a number of observations, interviews and informal
questionnaire survey on the users has been conducted to study the user
accessibility, their expectations and the manifestations of these user-perceptions
in the day-to-day use.
