PLANNING AND DESIGNING OPEN PUBLIC SPACES IN RESILIENT CITIES: RAMALLAH CITY AS A CASE STUDY
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Date
2023-03-02
Authors
Lama Dahboor
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Abstract
Planning and designing open public spaces (OPS) in Ramallah city is crucial to fit for resilient cities' strategies. This study aims to evaluate the current state of open public spaces in Ramallah city during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the existing challenges. A comprehensive methodology and framework were developed, including literature review, data collection, key indicators development, framework development, field assessment, and recommendations. The findings show that the OPS in Ramallah are distributed at a rate of around 1.28% of the total area of Ramallah, represented by 18 parks and 17 linear squares only and 115 fragmented parcels, with a total area percentage of 0.98% of total built-up area. Upon assessing 19 parks, it was discovered that one of them does not physically exist, and 72% of the parks are unsuitable for Disaster management or mitigation with 45% of them failing to meet the requirements of being Loose-fitting Spaces for all aspects, including disaster relief. The assessments highlight the need for significant improvements in various areas to make the parks more accessible, safe, and engaging for the local community. It is essential to restructure the parks and schedule their hours of operation to provide people with access to outdoor areas throughout the year. By improving the parks, Ramallah can provide its residents with safe, accessible, and enjoyable outdoor spaces.
The study recommends that Ramallah need more public parks, and the existing parks require improvement to provide people with access to outdoor areas throughout the year. The comprehensive approach proposed in this study can help the relevant authorities prioritize their efforts in making the parks more accessible, safe, and engaging for the local community. By improving the parks, Ramallah can provide its residents with safe, accessible, and enjoyable outdoor spaces, making the city more resilient and sustainable.
Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic; Disaster Management; Open Public Spaces (OPS); Ramallah City; Sustainability.