Urban green space in a high-density city: user expectations, accessibility and experience in context of Dhaka

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.