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Community-Engaged Research for the Promotion of Healthy Urban Environments: A Case Study of Community Garden Initiative in Shanghai, China

Author

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  • Huaiyun Kou

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Institute for Advanced Study in Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy-Saving Study of Dense Habitat of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Sichu Zhang

    (Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Yuelai Liu

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy-Saving Study of Dense Habitat of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

The importance of community gardens in a healthy urban environment has been extensively documented, while the garden building involving communities has not been much explored in fast-developing cities. This study examines community engagement in garden building activities in a rapid urbanization context, aiming to explore the application of community-engaged research methods for the promotion of neighbourhood environments. The Community Garden Initiative consisting of an array of progressive actions is formulated by the research team, featuring a process of increasing involvement of community members and decreasing intensity of external interventions. These activities have been launched based on community-university partnerships in Shanghai since 2014, synchronising with a transformation of urban regeneration paradigm in China where people-oriented approaches are more emphasized. Five actions covering 70 community gardens are analysed through surveys on participants’ attitudes and perceptions towards the activities. The results of the study presented people’s rapid acceptance of participation in public affairs, reflected possible measures to promote public participation, and confirmed the positive impacts of the garden building on the neighbourhood environmental health as well as on the community-building. Taking into account that residents generally lack the consciousness and capacities required to implement actions at the initial stage of community engagement, we proposed in the conclusion to start with external interventions and capacity buildings carried out by professionals as a supplement to the ‘community-driven’ principle of CBPR methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Huaiyun Kou & Sichu Zhang & Yuelai Liu, 2019. "Community-Engaged Research for the Promotion of Healthy Urban Environments: A Case Study of Community Garden Initiative in Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4145-:d:280979
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Gregis & Chiara Ghisalberti & Savino Sciascia & Francesco Sottile & Cristiana Peano, 2021. "Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Donghyun Kim & Sanghoon Lee & Seiyong Kim, 2023. "Study of Campustown Projects for the Sustainable Win-Win Growth of Universities and Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-26, June.
    3. Huaiyun Kou & Sichu Zhang & Wenjia Li & Yuelai Liu, 2021. "Participatory Action Research on the Impact of Community Gardening in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Investigating the Seeding Plan in Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    4. Hua Zheng & Min Guo & Qian Wang & Qinghai Zhang & Noriko Akita, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Knowledge Structure and Research Progress Related to Urban Community Garden Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-34, January.
    5. Way Inn Koay & Denise Dillon, 2020. "Community Gardening: Stress, Well-Being, and Resilience Potentials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-31, September.
    6. Xiyao Zhao & Yueting Mao & Yun Qian & Qing Lin, 2022. "The Promoting Effect of Mass Media on Participatory Landscape Revitalization—An Analysis from Newspaper Coverages of Participatory Urban Gardening in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-28, December.

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