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When Is a Park More Than a Park? Rethinking the Role of Parks as “Shared Space” in Post-Conflict Belfast

Author

Listed:
  • Ian Mell

    (Department of Planning & Environmental Management, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • John Sturzaker

    (Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography, University of Hertfordshire, Hartfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Alice Correia

    (Independent Researcher, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • Mary Gearey

    (School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4AT, UK)

  • Neale Blair

    (School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Ulster, Belfast BT15 1ED, UK)

  • Luciana Lang

    (School of Arts, Language and Culture, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • Fearghus O’Sullivan

    (Department of Planning & Environmental Management, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

Abstract

With the signing of the Belfast Agreement, Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) entered a new phase of urban development. Moving away from notions of division, Belfast City Council envisaged an inclusive and accessible city. Over a 20-year period, there have been significant changes in Belfast’s physical, socio-cultural, and political structure, reframing the city as a post-conflict space. However, there has been limited analysis of the role of parks in this process. This paper examines perceptions of parks, asking whether the promotion of a “shared spaces” policy aligns with local use. Through a mixed-methods approach, park users were surveyed to reflect on the meanings of parks in the city. We argue that although residual interpretations associated with historical socio-cultural divisions remain, parks are predominately multi-community amenities. The analysis illustrates that although destination parks attract greater patronage, there is visible clustering around ‘anchor’ sites at the local scale, especially in neighbourhoods with significant Catholic or Protestant identities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Mell & John Sturzaker & Alice Correia & Mary Gearey & Neale Blair & Luciana Lang & Fearghus O’Sullivan, 2022. "When Is a Park More Than a Park? Rethinking the Role of Parks as “Shared Space” in Post-Conflict Belfast," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:10:p:1611-:d:919423
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jonny J. Huck & J. Duncan Whyatt & John Dixon & Brendan Sturgeon & Bree Hocking & Gemma Davies & Neil Jarman & Dominic Bryan, 2019. "Exploring Segregation and Sharing in Belfast: A PGIS Approach," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 109(1), pages 223-241, January.
    2. Anna Barker & Adam Crawford & Nathan Booth & David Churchill, 2020. "Park futures: Excavating images of tomorrow’s urban green spaces," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(12), pages 2456-2472, September.
    3. Tim Cunningham, 2014. "Changing direction: Defensive planning in a post-conflict city," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4-5), pages 455-462, October.
    4. Gabriella Esposito De Vita & Claudia Trillo & Alona Martinez- Perez, 2016. "Community planning and urban design in contested places. Some insights from Belfast," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 320-334, June.
    5. Nicola Dempsey & Smriti Rabina Jayaraj & Emily Redmond, 2018. "There’s always the river: social and environmental equity in rapidly urbanising landscapes in India," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 275-288, April.
    6. Mike Morrissey & Frank Gaffikin, 2006. "Planning for Peace in Contested Space," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 873-893, December.
    7. Ian C. Mell, 2018. "Greening Ahmedabad—creating a resilient Indian city using a green infrastructure approach to investment," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(3), pages 289-314, April.
    8. Jonny Byrne & Cathy Gormley-Heenan, 2014. "Beyond the walls: Dismantling Belfast's conflict architecture," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4-5), pages 447-454, October.
    9. Rosaleen Hickey, 2014. "The psychological dimensions of shared space in Belfast," City, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4-5), pages 440-446, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Huriye Gürdallı & Sevil Bulanık, 2023. "Socio-Cultural Recovery of the Border in Nicosia: Buffer Fringe Festival over Its Boundaries," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.

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