Public Parks and Open Spaces Planning Guide PDF

 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 About this Guide 5 1.2 Previous Initiatives 6 1.3 The Be...

 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 About this Guide 5 1.2 Previous Initiatives 6 1.3 The Benefits of Public Open Space 16 2 THE CONTEXT FOR PUBLIC OPEN SPACE 19 2.1 What is Public Open Space? 20 2.2 What are the different settings where Open Space is necessary? 22 2.3 What are the different types of open space? 26 2.4 Where can Public Open Space be implemented? 34 3 POLICY & GOVERNANCE 41 3.1 Introduction 43 3.2 The Role of Government 44 3.3 The Existing Planning System 46 3.4 Recommended Improvements 48 4 PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS 55 4.1 Principles of Open Space Planning 58 4.2 Key Considerations 59 4.3 Open Space Gap Analysis 66 4.4 Develop Strategic Priorities and Actions 67 ANNEX 69 Case Studies 70 The Open Space Index 84 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MANAGEMENT TEAM CONTRIBUTORS ASSURE INC. Philippine Association of Nathaniel von Einsiedel Landscape Architects (PALA) Paulo Alcazaren TECHNICAL SUPPORT Beth Espino Rosalyn Marcelo-Veneracion Nappy Navarra Ma. Criscia Alonte Vic Dul-loog Berlin Gaile Gascon Roselaine Camille Tamina Philippine Institute of Princess Flores Environmental Planners (PIEP) Andres Muego LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Anna Maria Gonzales Donna Grace Londonio Armando Alli John Russel Galvez Conchita Ragragio Romeo Valdez Delia Josef Bryan Walden Guanlao Emmanuel Astillero Jhomar Arañas Gabriel Lopez Grace Sapuay Julia Nebrija Mary Jean Caleda Mia Quimpo Pechie Gonzales INTRODUCTION The provision of public open space is an essential com- ponent of community life. Public open space supports a broad spectrum of activities and interaction between people and nature, and sustains critical environmental functions for the health of communities. Along with other community services and infrastructure, public open spaces are important public assets that contrib- ute to livable, safe and sustainable communities. However, the Philippines is severely deficient in the supply of public parks and open spaces which has not been given by government the kind of attention that it deserves. While there are laws relating to parks and public open space, these are limited in requiring the provision of additional ones to increase the existing 1 supply. Meanwhile, our unprecedented urban popula- tion growth and changing demographics are increasing the need for public open space to support a wide range of activities. Concurrently, our urban landscape is rap- idly changing in keeping up with this growth while the potentials for providing for public open space before all lands are built up are not being pursued. Increasing densities, continuing urban population growth, climate change, and resource depletion are adding further im- portance on the provision of public open space. 1  Take the case of Metro Manila, which is one of the most dense and rapidly growing cities in the world. Because of the lack of planning, regulations and resources, Metro Manila is becom- ing increasingly congested and disconnected with nature. People are left with very little amount of open space. In fact, Metro Manila falls well below international standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a mini- mum of 9 square meter of green open space per person.1 Ac- cording to the Green City Index, Metro Manila currently has 5 square meters per person.2 To reach the WHO standard, Metro Manila will need to add 52 square kilometers of green open space, roughly the size of Manila and Makati combined. This lack of open space is now felt in the country’s other cit- ies. In the past 50 years, the Philippines’, urban population grew over 50 million people. By 2050, approximately 65 per- cent of the country’s total population will be urban. In the face of this, the amount of open space is not increasing commen- surately. In fact, the remaining ones are even being built upon in the name of progress. Metro Manila Skyline 2 The idea of providing adequate of public open space is not new in the Philippines. For example, in 1969, the Philippine In- stitute of Architects (PIA), under the leadership of its Presi- dent, Architect/ Environmental Planner Manuel T. Mañosa Jr., submitted to the Philippine Senate a recommendation on parks and open spaces for Metro Manila. They focused on the then controversial cutting up and development of the Quezon Memorial quadrangle (that 400-hectare parcel of land defined by East, West, North and Timog Avenues). That large space was supposed to be Metro Manila’s Central Park to replace the loss of open space in central Manila. The group’s 32-page report outlined the history and current status of open space in the metro area and stressed that “For reasons of safety, convenience and general well-being of the citizens of Metro Manila, the development of parks and open spaces has to be undertaken immediately.” Unfortunately, no action was taken on the group’s recommendations. At that time, the proportion of open space to every 1,000 population in Metro Manila was 0.9. With the metro area’s population now, the amount of open space to 1,000 population has fallen by 75% or 0.2. 3  There have been recent activities, however, that suggest change for the better. Most significant among these was the Conference of Public Space and the New Urban Agenda last February 2015, where 37 Philippine towns and cities together with 8 national agencies signed a Declaration on the Philip- pine Network for Public Spare. This Declaration specifically mentions: “We urge cities to improve public space in long – term development plans and the development of city – wide strategies and action plans. As a founda- tion for these strategies, we need to establish guides and sets of standards for planning design and management of public spaces in our cities,”3 Another important initiative is that of the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines (NAST – PH), which proposes the formation of a National Commission for the Pre- vention and control of Non – Communicable Diseases. The proposed Commission will analyze current laws, policies and programs which may negatively impact the health of the pub- lic, and create strategies that will promote a healthy lifestyle, and recommend new policies if necessary. These will include policies on the provision of adequate open spaces to encour- age greater physical activity. According to NAST – PH, more parks, sidewalks and bike lanes are better than fun runs.4 The success of open space provision is strongly influenced by sound strategic planning, good urban planning and design elements, and a good understanding of recreation and trends in community participation and public-private partnerships. It is in this context that this guide has been prepared. 4  1.1 ABOUT THIS GUIDE This guide is proposed to assist local communities, local government units (LGUs), real estate developers, and planners in both the private and public sectors in the planning, design and development of sustainable public open spaces that meet the leisure, recreation and sport needs of Philippine towns and cities. The guide: focuses on the planning and provision of land that is publicly owned and/or man- 1 aged for use by the community; recognizes the social, environmental, cultural, and economic contribution of open 2 space as an essential component of liveable towns and cities; provides practical planning tools and implementation strategies adapted from 3 “best practices” in a wide range of countries, as well as from relevant local tradi- tions; encourages collaboration across a wide range of fields of expertise including but 4 not limited to open space planning, land management, recreation planning, land use and environmental planning, sports management, heritage conservation, communi- ty health and wellbeing, natural resources management, and landscape design; and Discusses issues and challenges that will likely need to be addressed in the plan- 5 ning, design, development and management of public open space. It is envisaged that this guide will catalyze an evolving resource that has the capacity to strengthen the ability of the open space community-of-practice to respond to emerging chal- lenges and improve the planning, design and provision of public open space in the Philippines. 5  1.2 PREVIOUS INITIATIVES The need to provide Public Parks and Open Spaces is not new to the Philippines. There have been numerous ef- forts to create an effective system of parks in our country, which were driven by different needs, but failed be- cause of various reasons. S PA N I S H E R A During the Spanish Colonial Era, particularly because these were used as cover by the in Spain and in greater part of Europe, there British when they assaulted Intramuros, the have been calls for better open spaces to Spaniards were prompted to raze the whole correct the ills and congestion brought about area to the ground, thus forming the open by Industrial Revolution, which plagued the spaces we now know as Rizal Park or Luneta. urban populace. Spain responded to these This was soon utilized by the people for social calls and initiated similar actions in the Phil- gatherings, mimicking those in Europe. This ippines, only with a different purpose. An ex- made Rizal Park and Jardin Botanico the first ample of this is Jardin Botanico, a five hectare de facto parks of the city. Further improve- garden where plants were tested propaga- ments for these parks have been pursued, tion. It also served as a park enjoyed by the like the fire trees in Padre Burgos Avenue. locals, Spanish and Filipinos alike. Other open Unfortunately, with the onset of Philippine spaces have also thrived because of the Revolution and the Spanish – American War, clamor of people for open spaces, such as development of open spaces ended and the Bagumbayan. It was formerly occupied by Luneta was turned into an infamous execu- residential, religious and civic structures but tion ground. 6  Jardin Botanico in Plaza Arroceros during the Spanish Colonial Period. Source: METAmorphosis Facebook Page 7  Jonas Bridge/ Binondo Bridge under the Manila Burnham Plan of 1905 (Source: Public Domain) AMERICAN P In the following American period, plans by to be built in Harrison, Sta. Anna, Sampaloc Daniel Burnham for Manila and Baguio were and Tondo would have had an area of fifty realized. These created public open spaces hectares each, totaling two – hundred hec- in order to: a) provide a grand civic space, tares. It was also envisioned to have a park- b) serve as a monument to the emerging way from Rizal Park to Sangley Point in Ca- global power, and c) offer a breathing vite, parts of which we now know as Roxas space for their service men and ordinary Boulevard. These developments however, people alike. In this period, Rizal Park was were slowed down by a sluggish Philippine envisaged to be the central mall for the economy at the onset of WWI. With the civic core. With it came the installation of shelving of the grand civic core for Rizal the Rizal Monument, inspired by the Wash- Park, it became the venue of then Manila ington Monument in the National Mall in Carnival; an entertainment & commercial Washington D.C. (Mall here refers to a linear bazaar that became the prime social event open space that is defined by trees and of the city. This event placed Rizal Park as buildings.) Futher, Burnham planned nine the premiere leisure space in the city for play fields and four large parks in the pe- the second time, while paving the way for rimeter of the city, all connected by a park- the cordial relations between Americans way system. These four parks, which were and Filipinos. 8  Greening of the city was a very im- In the face of rapid urbanization in the portant component to the Burnham 1930’s the Burnham plan faced re – eval- plans. In charge of city greening in the uation. Zoning was introduced in Manila American period was John C. Mehan, he and subsequently infused with the plan. was given the Spanish-era Jardin Botani- In the re – evaluation that occurred, two co. He quickly developed the garden and out of four large parks for the city was it became popular and crowded, to the lost, those in Sta. Ana and Tondo. Only point that it needed to be expanded to the park in Harrison remained. While the areas with ample land and water. The Sampaloc Park, which was renamed Rizal cemeteries established in that era, the Park was indicated in the map, but its North and South cemetery were also street system seem to be cut up and placed in his care, of which one was was presumed to be for sale. ERIOD ERA made to be both a cemetery and a The other park created during this era nursery park (North cemetery.) was the Baguio Burnham Park. It con- tained a central lagoon surrounded by In general, landscape in Manila was kept open and cleared land. It also has a skat- simple and well maintained. Samples of ing rink and an enclosed pavilion. Anoth- great street planting are the former Aca- er was the Pook ni Maria Makiling, which cia trees in Taft Avenue and Fire trees in was declared as a national park to pro- P. Burgos St. tect it from rapid urbanization. The insular civil government led by Gov. Gen. James F. Smith (2nd from left) poses with visiting Secretary of War William H. Taft (3rd from left). Source: Ryerson & Burnham Archives, the Art Institute of Chicago) 9  COMMONWEALTH PERIOD The Commonwealth period saw the revitalized spirit to engage on a large scale rebuilding of the country and real- ization of earlier plans. Reserved parks were declared to preserve natural resources and spaces for leisure. Monu- ments dedicated to the Commonwealth and spaces that seek to give the country an identity (such as the new capi- tal complex) were pursued. Plans for the new capital called for roughly a thousand hectares of parks and park- ways. These were meant to replace the four parks lost in Burnham’s plan for Manila. Within these grand green spac- es were to be housed the new campus of the University of the Philippines (Which today still stands.) and the new capital complex. (Which is today’s Quezon Memorial Circle, along with the lands occupied by the Quezon City hall, Phil- ippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center and Vet- eran’s Memorial Medical Center. Parts of it went to the private sector.) These parks were to be connected by parkways and park connectors along the wide easements of the site’s waterways. (Very little parts of the parkways pushed through and the easements were lost to aggres- sive urbanization. The latter is viewed to be one of the main causes of severe flooding today in Quezon City.) Then the unexpected World War II happened, and all the plans had to be put on hold. Quezon Memorial Shrine, Quezon City (Source: Official Gazette) 10 W O R L D WA R I I During World War II, the country saw little the Agricultural, Finance Building and the to no progress in nation building. The Japa- whole of Intramuros going to the coast to nese never barred the utilization of parks serve as Manila’s de facto central park. for leisure, though they never advocated Meanwhile, the plans for the new capital the construction of additional parks or the complex were abandoned owing to military continuation of the plans of the new capital. advice that its flat terrain is hard to defend In 1945, the liberation of Manila came. This in case of attack. (After considering many battle destroyed most of the city. Fire trees other sites, the capital complex was decid- in P. Burgos St. burned, craters from the ed to sit on where the Batasang Pambansa bombing littered the fields. Most of Intra- is now located.) Finally, Louis Croft drew up muros and the surrounding government a new master plan which designates the buildings in Rizal Park were destroyed. After central part (Rizal Park and outlying areas.) the war, the country was bent on building of Manila as its central park while Intramu- back. Louis Croft, a landscape architect and ros were to be preserved as a historical planner, advocated razing the ruins from district. Manila during World War II (Source: Flickr, John Tewell) 11  THIRD REPUBLIC With the Americans granting the Philippines independ- Meanwhile, new plans for the new capital complex ence, the Third Republic worked on rebuilding the were drawn up. The plan included a grand avenue 99 country. Plans delayed by the war were put to motion, meters wide to be named “Avenue of the Republic” (Not while some were replaced based on the country’s to be confused with a street named “Republic Avenue.” changing needs and existing situation. Open spaces This plan was never realized and the Right of Way is created during this period were mostly dedicated to currently being occupied by informal settlers.) And the notable figures in the Philippines’ road to independ- government complex around what is now Batasang ence, and also meant to showcase the same as a new Pambansa. The grand avenue was to be lined of trees country with a big potential. The most notable con- and parks and was to showcase the best the country struction in this period is the Independence Grand- has to offer. Of these, only the Batasan came to frui- stand, (A temporary structure built in front of the Rizal tion. monument.) the Independence flagpole, (The same flagpole located in front of the Rizal Monument today.) and the Quirino Grandstand. (It was formerly named the independence grandstand.) Also in this period, an- other major event was held in Rizal Park, The Philippine International Fair of 1953. It was the first international world exposition held in Asia. It boasted of different Manila in the 1960s (Source: Pinoy Kollektor) In Manila new projects started, such as the Manila zoo. (It still exists today, in the face of pressure from both animal rights and business groups to close it down.) Rizal Park saw the addition of the Aluminum Spire to the Rizal Monument (It came down because of strong Miniature Garden, Luneta (Source: Pinoy Kollektor) public opposition.) and the National Library. Both were parts of the larger plan for the Rizal Cultural Center which never saw completion because of financial diffi- pavilions where at least 10 foreign countries and 27 culties. (It also received strong opposition from con- Philippine provinces participated. It became a yearly servation groups, but was still given a go ahead.) event which transferred to another site in Quezon City. (That is now SM North Edsa.) 12 Other parks established and improved in this era complex was cancelled after the war, President were the following: Fort Santiago in Intramuros be- Quirino declared the land left unused as a national came a historical public space after the Americans park. transferred to Subic and Clark. Special attention This Era also saw the creation of the National Parks was given to the replica of the prison cell of Dr. Jose Development Committee, or NPDC. Along with it, Rizal, as his centennial was fast approaching. Rizal Park has become Lunetas’ official name. The Paco Park also started to get attention; it was NPDC saw through developments for Rizal Park closed by the Americans during the colonial era and such as; the Playground, parking, sculptures and was used as a storage facility of the Japanese. After Carabao shaped seats behind the Quirino Grand- the war it was left to ruins but was subsequently stand. The Burnham green was also improved ; it rediscovered by tourists. It was renovated and to- was provided a slope rolling down from Roxas day is a favorite venue for weddings and live perfor- Boulevard to the Quirino Grandstand to improve the mances. views of events and parades held at the grand- stand. Steps were given to the front of the area The Pook ni Maria Makiling National Park also went which faces the Rizal Monument, giving it good van- through improvements, such as addition of some tage points. These steps are then framed by the Cabanas due to increased local tourism. iconic Carabao and Tamarraw statues, which still The initial efforts to establish the Quezon Memorial exists today. The sides of the Burnham Green were Circle was made through president Quirino’s procla- improved to accommodate food kiosks and toilets. mation to establish a memorial for his predecessor. The area around the monument was also improved Construction began shortly afterwards, but pro- for promenading. The southern portion along with gress was slow because of budgetary concerns. the contiguous area is developed as the Heidelberg fountain and the Magic fountain. The developments And finally, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife also were completed in 1963, and went on to the next emerged in this era. After the first planned Capitol era. The Children’s Playground, Luneta Park in the 1960s (Source: Pinoy Kollektor) 13  MARCOS ERA The Marcos era was very aggressive in nation building; slow at this time, although great effort was placed to along with it was the beautification of public spaces source funding from it, the only addition to it being headed by the First Lady. It built monuments and in- the fountain. As with the past era, problems such as frastructure dedicated to the “new society” and also social unrest, economic crisis and the revolution have to legitimize the long reigning regime. For Rizal park, put the government’s efforts to an end. the Marcos era ushered the creation of; The Interna- tional Gardens section. This section is made up of the The beginning of the current era saw people use parks Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden, both of as a gathering place to mourn the loss of a political which still stands today. There should have been a leader and to tell the past dictator that their dissatis- Malaysian Garden and other Gardens from Asia but faction have reached the tipping point. It has also be- attention and effort was turned to other sections of come the venue of celebration after the successful the park. The Chess Plaza, the Flower Clock and the and peaceful revolution. After which, with the continu- relief map of the Philippines was also built in this era. ity of the Fifth republic, parks, most especially Rizal The Gallery at the Park and Concert at the park are Park enjoyed hosting gatherings from small family but some of the events held in the park. Other Ameni- picnics to large religious and political events. ties added are the park of the blind, the Open Air Audi- Addition to the Rizal Park during the past four decades torium, the globe fountain and the Maria Orosa Water- of this era includes: The Lights and Sound Complex, falls. The Kanlungan ng Sining, The Orchidarium, the Busts Meanwhile, in this period Fort Santiago’s Plaza de Mo- of heroes in the central Lagoon, The Lapu – lapu stat- rionez and Plaza de Armas was conserved. It also saw ue (which replaced the globe fountain in Agrifina cir- the addition of the Rajah Sulayman open-air theater. cle.) The Centennial clock aimed to replace the old Also added later in this era are the Bronze footprints flower clock. (It still exists only with a different en- which traces Rizal’s journey from the fort to Rizal gine.) And the Korean War memorial Sculptures along Park. The progress of Quezon memorial circle was still the western side of Roxas Boulevard. Chinese Garden Entrance, Luneta (Source: Trip Advisor) 14  1986 TO PRESENT Many changes occurred through the years with (Which is controversial today because they seem Parks in our country. Most notably, some were to become permanent). The Ninoy Aquino Parks overrun and worst, never saw implementation due and wildlife still exists today but its area has to poor planning policies and rapid urbanization. shrunk to 22 hectares, most of which were due to As with Rizal Park, many amenities were lost other government establishments needed in the through time. The sculptures (most especially area. those stolen from the Kanlungan ng Sining, Cara- Based on the above information, Rizal Park may bao shaped benches and playgrounds behind the be considered as an example of an effective pub- Quirino Grandstand was lost and consequently lic space. It stood through the different eras men- replaced by the Manila Ocean Park. Cindy’s ham- tioned, and stands today as the country’s premi- burger was allowed operations in a small portion ere park, flocked by large numbers of visitors of the Children’s playground along Taft Avenue, it especially on weekends and holidays. The National was replaced by a Wendy's and today this building Parks Development Committee, which grew with has three commercial units. (One occupied by this park, is the one managing Rizal Park. It aims Wendy’s, the other a tarpaulin printing shop and to turn Luneta into a model for different LGUs another vacant space.) The Park for the Blind fell who also aspire to develop their own effective to disrepair and was subsequently overtaken by and resilient public parks and open space. what is now Jollibee in Maria Orosa Avenue. Today, environmental planners and other advoca- Fort Santiago today is one of the sought after cy groups are still striving to revive public open historical sites in the country. It still retained most spaces which were neglected by previous eras, of the attractions built to it, with some improved coupled by current policy makers’ unawareness of and or renovated. Paco Park continues to be a the importance of having public parks and open favorite spot for weddings and cultural shows. spaces.5 Pook ni Maria Makiling continues to exist today but is in need of rehabilitation. The Quezon Memo- rial Circle today is improved with two new muse- ums, a carnival and a local temporary bazaar Rizal Park, Luneta (Source: Jun Villegas) 15  1.3 THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE Open space provides a wide array of social, health, economic, and environmental benefits to individu- als and to the community as a whole. It is an essential ingredient for enhancing the livability of an area and improving the quality of life of its residents. Easy access to well designed and diverse open spaces will assist in not only managing the negative impacts of rapid and massive urbanization and population growth, but also enhancing the benefits that open space provides. There is a significant body of international research and knowledge of the wide ranging benefits of open space. These include: 16  Social Benefits Open spaces provide a range of social benefits which Health Benefits Access to open space: are increasingly being recognized as important drivers encourages physical activity; in shaping future communities. Open spaces: enhances physical and mental health; connect and build strong communities by provid- ing opportunities for local people to come to- helps reduce the risks of developing chronic gether for a range of leisure, recreational, cul- diseases; tural, and celebratory activities; assists in recovery from mental fatigue; and enhance opportunities for social cohesion and inclusion; and enhances children’s development and wellbeing. improve livability in urban environments by offer- ing affordable recreation opportunities for all sectors of the community, including low-income families. Environment Economic Benefits Benefits Green open spaces provide both aesthetic and Municipal, provincial and regional economies benefit environmental benefits including: significantly from various types of open spaces. protection of areas of conservation, biodi- Parks are a major attraction for recreation and versity and cultural heritage value; tourism industries, and are significant sources for revenue and of employment for local com- reduction of air and noise pollution; and munities; Managing climate change impacts by Active open spaces, especially sports fields, providing shade and cooling, contributing to serve the same purpose by attracting partici- urban heat abatement, contributing to pants and spectators beyond the local area and storm-water management, and by serving thus have significant contribution to the inflow as disaster evacuation centers. of economic benefits. 17 Chapter 1 References:  UN – Habitat 2015  Siemens Asian Green City Index  UN – Habitat Global Public Space Toolkit 2015  National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines  Parks for A Nation: The Rizal Park and the 50 years of the Na- tional Parks Development Committee. 18  THE CONTEXT FOR PUBLIC OPEN SPACE 2 19  2.1 WHAT IS PUBLIC OPEN SPACE? There are varying definitions of public open space that are used by the private sector and gov- ernment agencies. Some definitions focus on how the open space is used, while some focus on the type of land used for open space. The types of open space cover a wide range, from a small street-corner sitting area to a very large National Forest Reserve. They can also cover schoolyards and playgrounds as well as vacant or undeveloped lots. For the purpose of this guide, the following definitions of public open space are proposed. PUBLIC OPEN SPACE Land that is set aside for public recreation and leisure, or as parklands or for similar purposes. It includes both passive and active open space. Examples of these in- clude Rizal Park in Manila, Burnham Park in Baguio, Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Park in Quezon City, Rainforest Park in Pasig City, People’s Park in Davao, the parks that are normally found within residential subdivisions, and foreshore easements along beaches in coastal areas. Land set aside for the primary purpose of formal out- 20  ACTIVE PA S S I V E OPEN SPACE OPEN SPACE door sports by the community, such as areas, nature reserves, public squares, city-owned basketball courts and play- and community gardens that are made grounds, the Amoranto Stadium in Que- available for passive recreation, play and zon City, the Marikina Sports Complex, unstructured physical activity. Examples Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod City, of these include town plazas, city parks, and other sports complexes found in easements along rivers and creeks, and Provincial capital cities which host the National Forest Reserves. annual Palarong Pilipino. Throughout this guide, the use of the Open space that is set aside for parks, terms “public open space” and “open gardens, linear corridors, conservation space” are interchangeable. In general terms, open estate products. There is presently no law or policy space often refer to the land that is provided by in the Philippines that requires developers to pro- government. However, open space may also be pri- vide POPOS except in residential subdivision pro- vately owned but made available for use by the jects. public. Referred to as Privately-Owned Public Open San Francisco city in California, USA, promulgated in Space (POPOS), these are publicly accessible open 1985 a “Downtown Plan” that created such a sys- space in the form of plazas, pedestrian prome- tematic requirement for the provision of POPOS nade,small parks, and even sitting areas which are specifically as part of projects in high intensity provided and maintained by private developers. commercial districts. The goal was to “provide in Example of these include the green strip of Boni- the downtown quality open space in sufficient facio High Street in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, quantity and variety to meet the needs of down- the plaza in Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa, town workers, residents and visitors” (San Francis- Salcedo Park in Makati, and the landscaped prome- co Planning Code, Sections 135 and 138).This guide is nade and amphitheater in UP Town Center in Que- applicable to both government-provided and pri- zon City. These have been provided voluntarily by vately-owned public open space. developers in line with their business philosophy of building complete communities and not just real 21  2.2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS WHERE OPEN SPACE IS NECESSARY? The planning and design of open spaces requires an understanding of individual cities or mu- nicipalities as a whole, and of the actual location and setting that the proposed open space is to be located within. Most of our cities and municipalities have different types of settlements or settings, each with distinctive characteristics that influence what type of open spaces are required and how these may be provided. Different settings require different types of open space. For instance, in the built-up areas (eg, Poblacions) of Highly Urbanized Cities, there is likely very little opportunity to develop large public open space, while this may be possible in areas farther away from the city center. 22 The settings may be classified according to their geographic location relative to the city/municipal boundary, and to their distinctive characteristics, as follows: URBAN These are well established areas in the traditional “center” of the city or mu- nicipality. They are usually traversed by major inter-city roads, and are the BUILT-UP areas where the “downtown” or “central business district” is located. AREAS (e.g. Poblacion or urban barangays) These are areas at the fringe of the Urban Built-Up Areas where further ur- GROWTH ban growth and expansion is expected or already taking place. They include lands that may be occupied by large industries or commercial farms, but AREAS may no longer be relevant for such uses because of urbanization and com- mercial development. PERI- These are lands that are non-urban but are close to cities’ and towns’ growth URBAN areas. They have a relationship to the urban areas they surround as well as the hinterlands in which they are located. AREAS These include a cluster of cities and municipalities that focus on their collec- REGIONAL tive economy, employment, and the management of their natural resources AREAS and environmental assets. They include urban built-up areas, growth areas, and peri-urban areas. These include smaller municipalities and farming communities. These areas RURAL include peri-urban areas where some residential communities already exist AREAS and the growth boundary expands into the rural countryside. Coastal communities may be found in each of these settlement types, which have their own distinctive characteristics and needs. 23  It is important to note that while these settlement types may contain similar types of development and sup- porting infrastructure (eg, activity/commercial centers, industrial sites, office/employment hubs, residential communities, community and leisure facilities, utilities, etc), each face different challenges and opportuni- ties that influence the provision of public open space. An understanding of how the following factors present in each of the settlement types will assist in deter- mining the quantity, distribution and type of open spaces that may be required: A consistent and clear approach to defining and classifying open space is important throughout the entire planning and design process. Various approaches that are used to classify open space have tended to focus on the following: Population Demographic Growth or Decline Profile Housing Densities Access to essential Access to natural assets including access to infrastructure and/or physical landmarks private open spaces ie, public transport, employ- ie, natural parks, forest reserves, ment, & commercial hubs coastal resorts & foreshores, major rivers & lakes, etc. 24 Roxas Boulevard running along the shores of Manila Bay 25 Source: Ciudad de Manila, Flickr  2.3 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPEN SPACE? Land ownership (public land, national government-owned land, provincial government-owned land, city/municipality-owned land, privately owned land); Use or function (sports field, conservation or protection land, heritage con- servation, drainage, utility easement); Vegetation or topography (floodplain, river basin, forestland, ridgeline); or Visitor or user catchment area (national, regional, district, local) The table below categorizes open space by its broad primary land use, and highlights that some open space can serve many different primary and secondary functions, thus address- ing a broader range of community needs. It also shows that open space that are not primar- ily for recreation may have the capacity to meet important recreation needs. This highlights that open space planning cannot be undertaken in isolation from the broader land use plan- ning processes. 26  CATEGORIES/ PRIMARY USE EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL DESCRIPTIONS SECONDARY USE Conservation & Heritage Land primarily set aside to Conservation, protection or -Unstructured recreational protect and enhance areas enhancement of a highly valu- activities may be accommo- with significant biodiversity, able biodiversity, environmen- dated provided there is no environmental, disaster man- tal, disaster management impact on environmentally agement, and cultural value and/or cultural value. sensitive or heritage conser- vation areas, such as walking Examples include: Protected and cycling. Areas, Disaster Danger Zones, Cultural Heritage Conserva- - Nature/heritage apprecia- tion Sites, National Forests/ tion Parks - Scientific study Natural & Semi-Natural Landscapes & Amenity Land set aside to add or pro- Enhancement or protection of - Recreational activities com- tect the character of an area, the natural or semi-natural patible with the natural, semi- including areas with environ- character or attractiveness of natural or landscape values mental and/or heritage value an area. may be accommodated, such as walking, cycling, nature Examples include: Wetlands, appreciation. Mangroves, Historic Sites, Ridgelines, Public Beaches - Nature conservation, protec- tion and enhancement - Nature/scientific study and educational activities - Water management Parklands & Gardens Land which may have some Established for a range of - Community events modifications to support com- structured and unstructured - Community gardens munity social interactions, activities, community recrea- unstructured recreation and tion and cultural activities. - Picnics wellbeing uses, including for - Weddings / celebrations Examples include: Landscaped nature appreciation and re- parklands and gardens, formal - Play flection lawn areas, open lawns, pock- et parks, playgrounds, botani- cal gardens, meditation nodes 27  CATEGORIES/ PRIMARY USE EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL DESCRIPTIONS SECONDARY USE Linear Parks and Open Space Linear reserves are usually on Primarily provided to ensure - Walking and cycling trains or alongside rivers and effective functioning of natu- - Horseback riding / bridle creeks, drainage easements, ral processes such as drain- foreshores, and some utility trails age, and access to utility lines. easements (ie pipelines, pow- - Informal recreation er lines, railway reserves) Linear open space may also provide links to broader open - Nature appreciation space network, community or activity hubs and/or other areas of interest. Active Open Spaces Land which has been modified Established primarily for May accommodate unstruc- to support structured sports structured team sports and tured community or individual and recreation active recreation in an out- use when not required for door setting, including training primary use. and competition. Generally May include informal lawns, includes built infrastructure play, picnic and other facilities to support competition. in the peripheral areas. Examples include: soccer - Community and cultural pitch, baseball field, athletics events tracks, open basketball courts, open tennis courts - Emergency evacuation areas - Buffering areas Civic Spaces Land which has been modified Established primarily to pro- Al fresco dining to support a range of formal vide for family and community Entertainment shows and informal activities. activities, gatherings and events. Public expositions Examples include: Plazas, civic squares, outdoor promenades City / town fiestas / festivals Outdoor concerts Community gatherings Passive use by people 28  CATEGORIES/ PRIMARY USE EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL DESCRIPTIONS SECONDARY USE Utilities and Services Land reserved for urban and Reserved primarily for infra- In some instances, such land non-urban infrastructure for structure utilities and ser- may be available for commu- utilities and services. vices. nity recreation use when not being used for its primary Examples include: main water purpose. pipelines, power line ease- ments, easements along riv- - Linear parks / trails ers and creeks, cemeteries/ - Habitat corridors / refuge memorial areas, railway line - Sports fields buffer Coastal Areas and Beaches Open space areas that form Conservation of natural areas part of a foreshore, or park- and coastal systems land Beach-related activities Protection from storm surge and tsunamis Visitor or User Catchment Area Catchment is a term used to determine the distribu- In the following table, catchment has been used in tion of public open space and can be effectively conjunction with hierarchy, size and category. The used in conjunction with the categories, hierarchy result is an integrated definition of pen space that and sizes of open space sites. It refers to a “sphere considers a range of factors and provides a help- of influence” of open space in terms of travel, use ful planning tool for local government units as well and its role within the open space system. Catch- as private developers of large mixed-use real es- ment can be explained using distance (eg, walkabil- tate developments to establish a successful open ity distance), travel time, role of the site, scale, quali- space system and to develop individual open ty and level of service, and in some cases even sub- space sites. sequent maintenance and resourcing required for effective asset management. 29  SMALL OR LOCAL PARKS Open space serving a small catchment area such that users are within safe walking distance. This could be in the range of 150m to 300m, depending on the population density and the presence of barriers. Site may be less 0.50 hectares and can be quite small. A minimum width of 30m would be preferred to achieve a reasonably proportioned open space. Examples include parklands, gardens, plazas and civic spaces. NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS Open space serving an area generally with a walking distance of 400m to 500m from houses. Size would generally be from 0.75 to 1.00 hectare, with a minimum width of 50m to achieve a reasonably proportioned open space. Examples include parklands, gardens, plazas and civic areas. 30  SUB-DISTRICT PARKS Open space serving three neighborhoods, generally with a size of 5-6 hectares. Generally provide several recreation nodes offering a wide range of opportuni- ties including sporting facilities. Passive recreation provision is important either as the primary function or to compliment a sporting use. DISTRICT PARKS Open space of around 10 hectares, serving around six neighborhoods or a population catchment area of 15,000 to 25,000 people. Generally provide for a wide range of formal and informal recreational activities in- cluding facilities for organized sports and passive use of open space. Accessible to residents by safe walking and cycling routes. Where provided beyond 1km from residences, can also be accessed by public transport or motor vehicle. Examples include sports fields and conservation reserves. 31  MUNICIPAL PARKS Open space providing for the needs of the whole city or municipality. Ideally located at a minimum of 2km from residences. Will require access by public transport or motor vehicle, and provision of parking. Minimum of 3 hectares would be reasonable for a municipal open space. Open space at a municipal level may be specialized for specific sporting infrastructure. It will be important to ensure that informal recreation and passive activities are well provided for. REGIONAL PARKS La Mesa Ecopark (Edited Image, Source: Joanne’s Blog, blogspot.com) Open space serving the catchment including and beyond the municipality, including neigh- boring municipalities. Size generally 10 to 30 hectares. Also includes important sites of historical, cultural or environmental significance. 32  NATIONAL PARKS Quezon National Forest Park (Edited Image, Source: worldwidetrails.com) Open space serving intra-region catchment or the entire country. Usually associated with site-specific environmental, cultural or landscape values. Usually managed by the national government, in some cases in partnership with the host local government unit. Examples include National Parks and National Forest Reserves. The open space planning and design process needs to consider the full range of open space types and catchments to ensure that land is fir for the purpose. This will ensure that a mix of opportunities is provided for community use and that the full range of social, environmental and economic benefits can be achieved. 33  2.4 WHERE CAN PUBLIC SPACE BE IMPLEMENTED? Because land is a limited resource and the competition between land use alternatives is complex, knowledge of physical constraints identified from a land capability assessment is a major consideration in not only open space planning but in any planning process. Building a solution to these constraints or potential problems in the planning phase of a project pro- vides a better longer term outcome. Land capability should not be confused with land suita- bility. Land suitability is the assessment of how suitable a particular site is for a particular use, and depends on land capability and a range of other factors such as proximity to cen- ters of population, land tenure, attractiveness of landscape, heritage, cultural value, and con- sumer demand. Albay Park and Wildlife (Source: Marbleplaty, flickr.com) 34 Land Capability Land capability assessment is necessary slope and soil characteristics. A further or when one or more of the following are in- full assessment will also be necessary, which volved: involves:  The site is more than 5 hectares and a  Determining the engineering risks the significant proportion of the site will be proposed development may encounter; developed;  Determining the mitigation measures to  Road construction is involved; and contain any problems;  The average slope of the site is over 10  Assessing the cost, required land or oth- degrees and a significant proportion of er limitations arising from the mitigation the site will be developed. measures; and For all these situations, an initial assessment  Reviewing the appropriateness of the is necessary which will involve determining proposed land use in the light of the pre- the erosion risk and general limitations of the ceding analysis. Land Suitability Some existing laws, regulations and standards  Be suitable for the intended use. provide some guidelines about the type of land  Be of an area and dimensions to allow easy that should be provided as open space. These adaptation to different uses in response to require that public open space be: changing community active and passive rec-  Provided along foreshores, rivers, creeks and reation preferences. permanent water bodies.  Maximize passive surveillance.  Be linked to existing or proposed future pub-  Be integrated with urban water management lic open spaces where possible. systems, waterways and other water bodies.  Be integrated with floodways and unencum-  Incorporate natural and cultural features bered land that is accessible for public recre- where appropriate. ation. 35  Land Suitability When considering land for suitability as open Encumbered land is land that is not suited for space, it is important to consider whether the development purposes. It includes easements land is ‘fit for the purpose’ of the intended open for powerlines, waterways/drainage, floodwater space use. As this is not a ‘black-and-white’ as- retention ponds, wetlands, landfill, conservation sessment, careful consideration will need to be and heritage areas. However, this land may be given to what the intended public open space used for a range of activities such as walking would be used for both now and the future. The trails and sports fields, but this is not provided defined categories of open space will be useful in as a substitute for public open space require- helping to identify the likely uses of an open ments. Further to this definition, a more com- space site. prehensive list of encumbered land sites could include the following: The provision of suitable land for the establish- ment of open space is prescribed by national  Easement /location of transformer and/ laws and is an important requirement that many or control boxes of utilities local government units face in the assessment of  Drainage-ways development applications. However, in a number  Flood /inundation land /floodwater re- of cases, many open space areas have been de- tention ponds veloped on sites that are not suitable for residen-  Land subject to overlays within local tial or other productive developments. Rather, it government CLUPs (eg, heritage, for- is often the ‘left-over’ land that a developer will ests, coastal areas, disaster danger hand over to local government, which is often zones, etc.) unsuitable for the purpose of active or passive  Powerlines /transmission lines recreation.  Conservation /biodiversity areas In other countries, it is required that unencum-  Erosion /landslide-prone slopes / bered land that is suitable for open space devel- escarpment /gullies opment be provided in addition to encumbered  Road reserves land (that may also be donated to the local gov-  Waterways and permanent water bodies ernment for ownership and management).  Earthquake fault zones /liquefaction areas  Disaster danger zones 36 In considering the use of encumbered land, it is important to identify ap- propriate primary and secondary functions for the site, while also pursu- ing unencumbered sites elsewhere for a broader range of functions. In this sense, encumbered land should be seen as an adjunct to unencum- bered open space, and it should be planned and designed to be integrated with it. Some examples of how land may be assessed for open space provision when encumbrances exist are shown in the following table. Type of Encumbrance Open space uses that might be suitable - Could be part of linear reserve or ease- Flood-prone land / ment along rivers and creeks. Disaster danger zone - Could be informal active recreation and/or sport training ground. - Depending on flooding frequency, could be informal active recreation and/or sport Drainage basin training ground. - Often not suitable for children’s play. May provide temporary additional green Road reserve spaces and/or for the purpose of linkages and pathways. - Where infrastructure exists (eg, power transmission towers, transformers, control boxes) – NOT suitable for open space. Easements - Where open spaces under transmission lines or over underground pipes, may be suitable for linear corridors or pathways. Water component NOT suitable as open Waterways space. While conservation and environmentally sensitive land mas be considered encumbered as it may restrict recreational use and access, it is important to recognize the significant value of the land in protecting biodiversity, vegetation, natural habitat as well as cultural and historical values. 37 Marikina River Park 38 Davao People’s Park Photo: Enrique Bendicho 39 Photo: Jojie Alcantara Chapter 2 References:  ACT Legislation Register (1999). Land capability assessment guidelines. Retrieved from: http:// www.legislation.act.gove.au/ni/2002-242/20020404-2968/pdf/2002-242pdf  Greater London Authority (2011). London’s living places and spaces. In the London Plan (Chapter 7). Retrieved from: http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/lp2011_chapter_7.pdf  Natural Resources Management and Environment Department. (n.d.). Land suitability classification. Retrieved from: http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5310E/X5310e04.htm#3.4 the results of land suitability evaluation  NSW Department of Industry, (n.d.). Land capability. Retrieved from: http://www.IIs.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/land- capability  Parks & Leisure Australia. (2013). Open space planning and design guide. Retrieved from: http:// www.parksleisure.com.au/documents/item/2091  United States Environment Protection Agency, (n.d.). What is Open Space/Green Space? Retrieved from: http:www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/uep/openspace.html#main-content 40 POLICY & GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC 3 OPEN SPACE 41  Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center 42 Source: Biodiversity Management Bureau  3.1 INTRODUCTION While the concept and practice of sustainable urban development has been widely accepted worldwide, public parks and open space have not been given the attention it deserves in the Philippines. Yet there is a growing body of principles and sound prac- tices for improving access to good public open space in cities, as well as a growing number of good practices from different cities around the world. Presently, there are just a few laws and government policies in the Philippines relating to public open space. However, these are mainly policy statements acknowledging the need and advocating the provision of public open space, but do not specify how these are to be supplied, distributed, developed and managed. The existing laws do suggest, however, that government – at the national, provincial, and city/municipal level – plays a critical role in the provision of open space. 43  3.2 THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT National Government The national government is mainly associated with national parks and reserves established to pro- tect areas of environmental, biodiversity or cultural significance. There are a number of national legislations dealing with a wide range of open space concerns. These include the following: An Act Creating the Commis- An Act Providing for the Pro- RA sion on Parks and Wildlife, RA tection and Conservation of Defining its Powers, Func- the National Cultural Heritage 826 tions and Duties 10066 Revised Forestry Code of the The Local Government Code of the PD Philippines (refers to National RA Philippines (requires all local govern- ment units to provide parks, green- Parks that are considered forest 1559 lands) 7160 belts, forests, public open spaces, and playgrounds for their constituents) The National Building Code Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ PD (specifies a percentage of measurement for site occupan- PD Protective Decree (specifies the re- quired amount of open space as a per- 1096 cy with regards to open space) 957 centage of the total subdivision area, spe- cifically for Open Market Housing) PD Defining Open Space for PD 975 BP Housing and Subdivision Standards for Socialized and 1216 220 Economic Housing 44  In addition to these, there are a number of ad- sive Land Use Plan (CLUP) as mandated by the ministrative orders and other regulations that Local Government Code. As such, they are in deal with special concerns relating to open effect the key provider and manager of open space, such as those relating to heritage sites, spaces in their communities. strategic agricultural and fisheries development However, only a few of the affluent highly ur- zones, and environmentally sensitive protected banized cities have developed specific sites as areas. public open space outside of the open spaces Provincial Government required by law in private residential develop- The Local Government Code (R.A. No. 7160) spe- ments. In these cases, the approach has large- cifically mandates that LGUs, including Provinc- ly been one-off projects and often not based es, should provide services to its constituents on any needs assessment. In many instances, including parks, greenbelts, forests, public public open space projects are personal initia- parks and playgrounds. Provincial governments tives of Mayors (or their spouses). To this date, are also expected to enforce national laws with- there has hardly been any report of a city or in their territories. In many instances, a number municipality that has initiated any City/ of provinces have taken the initiative to develop Municipal Open Space Plan or City/Municipal sports complexes to cater to the recreation and Sport and Recreation Plan. sports requirements of their constituent cities This is largely due to the fact that the provi- and municipalities. The large ones often host sions of the Local Government Code and the regional and national sports competitions, such CLUP Guidelines requiring cities and municipal- as the annual Palarong Pilipino. ities to provide parks, greenbelts, forests, and City / Municipal Government public open space, for their constituents this City/municipal governments are the ‘planning requirement is not strictly enforced. Besides, authority’ and the ‘responsible authority’ for there are no explicit guidelines that cities and strategic land use planning and implementing municipalities can use for the supply, distribu- planning and development of open space at the tion, implementation and management of open city / municipal level through their Comprehen- space. Rizal Park or “Luneta Park”, Manila 45  3.3 THE EXISTING PLANNING SYSTEM The three existing policy issuances that serve as the primary foundation for the planning and provision of public open space are: RA 7160 PD 1096 HLURB’S CLUP This requires LGUs to for- GUIDELINES mulate Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) and Zoning Ordinances (ZO) This sets measurements where parks and open and standards for built- These provide for a Land space can be provided for. up areas in cities and Use Plan with an accom- Parks and Open Spaces municipalities, which panying Zoning Ordi- are part of the package of include Parks and Open nance within which LGUs “services” that LGUs are Spaces; and can incorporate Parks required to provide in line with their public welfare and Open Spaces. mandate; 46 The Local Government Code requires LGUs to more regulatory than planning since the stand- prepare CLUPs and Zoning Ordinances, which ards are integral to the permitting system. P.D. includes parks and open space as one of the 957 and B.P. 220 require landowners and/or land uses. The CLUP Guidelines provides more private developers to allocate a minimum of 30 specific directions and steps in preparing the percent of the entire subdivision project for CLUP and Zoning Ordinance. However, neither roads and open space. In almost all cases, if the Local Government Code nor the CLUP Guide- the project plans provide such percentage, lines contain explicit guidelines on how to actu- then the project gets approved and a develop- ally plan, design, implement and manage parks ment permit is granted to the landowner or and open spaces. The National Building Code is developer. Similarly, if the standards pre- more explicit, but focuses mainly in prescribing scribed in the National Building Code are standards for the planning and design of parks adopted, the proposed development projects and open space. It also does not provide for are issued their Building Permit. how these are to be implemented. There are no laws or policies that prescribe The existing planning system for parks and where parks and open space should be devel- open space, therefore, is limited mainly to regu- oped, how much land area they should have, lating their provision in residential subdivisions how large a population they should serve, and through the enforcement of P.D. 957 and B.P. how they should be designed, implemented and 220, and through the National Building Code for managed. all other types of development. The system is 47  3.4 RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING PLANNING SYSTEM Based on these limitations as well as the increasing need for the provision of adequate open space in our rapidly growing cities, it makes sense to craft new laws to facilitate their implementation. The experience and practices of other countries are good references, particularly Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States. But because the adoption of new laws involves a tedious and time-consuming process, it is recom- mended that a directive to all LGUs be issued by HLURB that specifically focuses on the provision of public open space. This should be consistent with relevant national laws, and establish the basic ob- jectives and strategies for open space planning in urban settings that LGUs can either integrate with their CLUPs or adopt as a complementary policy. At the minimum, it must have the following basic contents: 48  1 focuses on facilitating the orderly development of urban DEVELOPMENT areas and, among other things, includes a strategy to FRAMEWORK identify the location of open space for recreation, biodi- versity, protection and/or flood risk reduction purposes. OPEN SPACE 2 focuses on the creation and protection of a diverse and integrated network of public open space for recreation PLANNING and conservation of natural and cultural environments. OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT 3 focuses on the management and protection of public open space. OPEN SPACE 4 supports the growth and development of the province’s NETWORK other settlements by creating opportunities to enhance open space networks within and between settlements. AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL acknowledges that planning must implement ecolog- AND LANDSCAPE VALUES 5 ically sustainable development, and adopts principles established by national and international agree- ments. The element focus on the strategic planning, protection and management of areas with significant environmental and landscape values, including:  Biodiversity values (including native plants and animals)  Native vegetation  Coastal areas and bays  Other environmentally sensitive areas 49  ENVIRONMENTAL 6 provides guidance on environmental management and disaster risk management approaches that could be RISKS adopted to avoid environmental degradation and hazards. NATURAL 7 sets out strategies and guidelines to assist in the conser- RESOURCES vation and wise use of natural resources to support both environmental quality and sustainable development. MANAGEMENT BUILT sets out strategies for ensuring that planning a new land 8 use and development appropriately responds to its land- ENVIRONMENT scape, valued built form and cultural context and protects places and sites with significant heritage, cultural and AND HERITAGE other values. It would be very helpful to LGUs to also look into the experiences of our own cities who have tak- en the initiative to implement open space projects strictly on their own. They include Pasig City, Iloilo City, San Fernando City (La Union), Angeles City, Valenzuela City, Mandaue City, and Davao City. For cities and towns wishing to undertake open space development projects, it is suggested that they formally adopt a local ordinance or resolution stating their policy objectives and principles. Below is an example of the basic contents of such a document. 50  Public Open Space Provision Objectives: The provision of public open space should:  To provide a network of quality, well-  Implement any relevant objective, policy, strat- distributed, multi-functional and cost-effective egy or plan for open space set out in the Com- public open space that includes local parks, prehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Compre- active open space, linear parks and trails, and hensive Development Plan (CDP); links to national parks and open space;  Provide a network of well-distributed neighbor-  To provide a network of public open space that hood public open space that includes: caters to a broad range of users;  Local parks within 400 meters safe walking  To encourage healthy and active communities; distance of at least 95 percent of all dwellings,  To ensure land provided for public open space generally 1 hectare (if it does not include active can be managed in an environmentally sustain- open space) in area and suitably dimensioned able way and contributes to the development and designed for their intended use and to of sustainable neighborhoods. allow easy adaptation in response to changing community preferences;  Additional local parks, plazas or public squares Public open space should: in activity centers and higher density residen-  Be provided along foreshores, streams and tial areas; permanent water bodies.  Active open space of at least 5 hectares in area  Be linked to existing or proposed future public within 1 kilometer of 95 percent of all dwelling open spaces where appropriate. that is: a) suitably dimensioned and designed  Be integrated with floodways and other danger to provide for the intended use, buffer areas zones that is accessible for public recreation. around sports fields and passive open space; b)  Be suitable for the intended use. appropriate for the intended use in terms of  Be of an area and dimensions to allow easy quality and orientation; c) located on flat land; adaptation to different uses in response to d) located with access to, or making provisions changing community active and passive recre- for, a sustainable water supply; e) adjoin ational preferences. schools and other community facilities where  Maximize passive surveillance. practical; and f) designed to achieve sharing of  Be integrated with urban water management space between sports. systems, waterways and other water bodies  Linear parks and trails along waterways, vege-  Incorporate natural and cultural features tation corridors, and road rights-of-way within where appropriate. 1 kilometer of 95 percent of all dwellings. (Adapted from the State Planning Policy Framework, Victoria, Australia accessed from: http://www.dcpd.vic.gov.au/planningsystems/a-guide-to-the-planning-system) 51  Cities and municipalities generally specify their land use policies and objec- tives in their CLUPs, which in turn provides for the strategic basis for any open space provisions that can be implemented through local (ie, neighbor- hood) planning schemes. LGUs can include details of their local open space requirements within the CLUP and/or may reference or incorporate their 52  It is also recommended that cities and municipalities formulate their own City/Municipal Open Space Plan that pro- vides the rationale to inform local planning policies and contributes to the land use context contained within their CLUPs and Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs). The City/Municipal Open Space Plan will identify supply and demand requirements for the provision of open space. This includes the provision of open space in green field devel- opments and in the case of urban redevelopment or renewal. An Open Space Plan can be used to determine priorities for the planning, provision and development of open space across a city or municipality. It is also critical as a tool for determining the open space contribution from developers (as part of the approval process for subdivisions and other types of development). Iloilo Esplanade along Iloilo River in Mandurriao, Iloilo City 53 Source: Photobucket, Felipe Uygongco, 2011 Chapter 3 References:  UN-Habitat. Global Public Space Toolkit. 2015  Victoria (Australia) State Planning System 54 4 PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS 55  Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Park, Bonifacio Global City 56 Source: Arrakeen.ch This section of the guide is intended to introduce and reinforce the important factors in open space planning to ensure quality open space outcomes. It should be pointed out, however, that this section is not a ‘how to’ guide for pre- paring open space strategies, but rather:  To outline the main considerations when undertaking open space planning;  To summarize the key components of an open space strategy or plan; and  To provide tools that may assist in various aspects of open space planning including assessment of subdivision applications. When undertaking open space planning, the key considerations are to:  Establish a scope, purpose and process for the planning activity  Assess existing conditions – existing supply of open space  Identify the needs – existing and future demand for open space  Community and stakeholder engagement  Understand influences, drivers for change and trends in open space de- mand and provision  Gap analysis – understand the context, opportunities and options for the future  Develop strategic priorities and actions to respond to the identified needs and gaps 57  4.1 PRINCIPLES OF OPEN SPACE PLANNING The following principles are listed under key headings that flow through to the design section of this guide, and are intended to be a ‘checklist’ of guiding principles and key statements. Accessibility & Livability Multi-functional & Adaptable Environmental Protection & Sustainability  Acknowledgement of the bene-  Flexible and multi-use, and fits of open space to social  Sustainable development – en- encouraging participation. inclusion, health and wellbeing. vironmental protection /  Diversity of opportunities,  Open space is highly valued by preservation / enhancement. settings and experiences – the community; involvement  Well maintained, sufficiently balanced and complementary. and engagement of the local resourced and sustainable for  Integration of public open community is critical. future generations. space across various land  Safe and supportive environ-  Planned approach to the deliv- owners and managing bodies. ments / accessible and equita- ery of open space.  Providing for and/or preserv- ble across communities.  Preservation of natural, herit- ing municipal, provincial and  Usability and appropriateness age and cultural character and national open space needs. of use (relevant to the primary features.  Responsive, adaptable to pop- function of the open space). 