Residents’ Views and Perceptions for the Use and Design of the Urban Green Infrastructure to the Second Largest Municipality of Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki ^†

Abstract

Urban green infrastructure captures an appreciation of urban green as essential infrastructure that is as important to a good quality of urban life as technical or social infrastructures. The approach emphasizes the multitude of services and functions performed by urban green, all of which impact the quality of life and sustainability. We design green spaces; we pass from the meaning of the maintenance of a natural landscape to the designing and construction of an artificial landscape that makes the users feel close to nature or to a beautiful and useful environment. Regarding the landscapes of Kalamaria, most of the residents find them more artificial than natural, and the design of the green spaces in their municipality is simple. The unity between green spaces and neighboring buildings is also evaluated as important, and the functionality of the green spaces that are different spaces satisfies different users, which is considered important. Then, the respondents asked how important it is that urban green constitutes an imitation of nature. Also, the infrastructure is the dominant element of the park. There is unity between green spaces and neighboring buildings, and the green space helps with the socialization of immigrants and refugees.

1. Introduction

The concept of “urban green infrastructure” captures an appreciation of urban green as an essential infrastructure that is as important to a good quality of urban life as technical or social infrastructures. The approach emphasizes the multitude of services and functions performed by urban green, all of which impact the quality of life and sustainability [1].

Urban green infrastructure is the total network of all urban green spaces, such as parks, productive landscapes, gardens, green corridors, and roofs, and contributes to biodiversity conservation and benefits people through the maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services [2]. The urban green area is an indicator of sustainability and needs to be considered in city development and policy [3].

One of the main characteristics of the late 20th and early 21st century has been its rapid urbanization process, based on substantial population growth, especially significant in the southeastern countries of Europe [4]. The study evaluates residents’ views and perceptions of the use and design of the urban green infrastructure of the second largest municipality of the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki.

The paper is organized into three sections. First, residents evaluate the quality of the UGI, the frequency and the duration residents visit the parks, and with company or not. The second section presents the design of green spaces, and we pass from the meaning of the maintenance of a natural landscape (for example, a protected area) to the designing and construction of an artificial landscape that makes the users feel close to nature or a beautiful and useful environment. The unity between green spaces and neighbor buildings is an important element for the respondents with the activities of those groups (residents and MGO) related to the green urban design of the municipality.

2. Material and Methods

As sampling method, simple random sampling was applied for two reasons. This research was conducted using personal interviews. The questionnaire developed for the purpose of this study consists of 15 questions. These questions were addressed to the households of the municipality of Kalamaria. The second largest municipality in the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece (Figure 1) covers an area of 7200 square meters and has a population of 92,248 (2021 census). Two-thirds of Kalamaria is surrounded by sea, with 6.5 km of attractive coastline, and the economy is mainly driven by tourism and commerce. The green infrastructure of the municipality of Kalamaria covers 635,800 m² and accounts for 9.93 percent of the municipality’s total area. This area consists of 40 parks, 76 green spaces, and other smaller areas, such as backyard gardens and green roofs [5].

Forest species dominate the vegetation in most green spaces of the municipality; however, two-thirds of these green spaces are smaller than 0.1 ha, with limited capabilities for recreation and other functions.

Data were collected in 2020 between the months of May and July. The households were found randomly, using tables of random numbers. The population under study included all the households in the municipality. The applied sampling framework involved the lists of domestic electricity consumers. The use of households is a familiar case of using teams instead of sample units. It is easier and more affordable [6]. If a member of the specific household was not found or refused to complete the questionnaire, we proceeded to new sample units. The population of the proportion p, as well as the estimation of the standard error of the population s_p for qualitative data, questions, and the mean and standard deviation s for the quantitative data, was carried out by simple random sampling formulas [7]. To determine the sample size, pre-sampling was used, with a sample size of 50 individuals. The size of the sample was estimated to be 1567 households, according to the simple random sampling formulas where t = 1.96 and e = 0.11 (for qualitative data), t = 1.96, e = 0.11, s = 2.221, t = 1.96, e = 0.025, p = 0.50 for quantitative data. Correction of the finite population can be ignored because the size of the sample n is big, in accordance with the size of the population N.

3. Results and Discussion

During the interviews, the residents were initially asked about their demographic profile. Women constituted 51.9% of the participants; 35.2% of respondents were 18–25 years old, and 26.4% were over 30 years old. The majority of the residents (34.3%) hold a university degree. Regarding their marital status, 44.5% were married and 59.8% had children. Most of the interviewees (26.0%) stated to be private employees, followed by students with 19.5%. Finally, 28.3% of the sample stated that they earn EUR 10.001–20.000 per month, while 22.3% reported EUR 5.001–10.000 as individual monthly income.

3.1. The Use of UGI

Parks, forests, green corridors, and trees shape our cities. They provide multiple benefits to society, and day after day, they contribute to residents’ well-being [8].

Which of the open spaces are suited as green infrastructure components and how can they be registered? Many urban areas already have plans and strategies at hand for the protection and development of valuable green spaces in the form of open space systems or ecological networks. While the urban green infrastructure approach interfaces with these green networks, it takes a wider view to include the entire range of sites that have the potential to supplement the existing site networks at various spatial scales.

In the first section of the paper, the residents were asked to evaluate the urban green spaces in their municipality: t. The frequency, duration, and the person that they prefer spending time with.

It was found that about half (47.1% (s_p = 0.0126) of the residents in the municipality of Kalamaria were of the opinion that UGI is mediocre, while 24.5% (s_p = 0.0109) and 2.4% (s_p = 0.0038) considered them as good and very good, respectively. A total of 20.3% (s_p = 0.0102) evaluated them as bad, and 5.5% (s_p = 0.0058) were very bad. No answer was received from 0.2% (s_p = 0.0011).

With regard to the frequency of visits, residents evaluate the urban green infrastructure in their municipality. A total of 28.5% (s_p = 0.0114) of them visit the parks sometime per week. A total of 24.4% (s_p = 0.0108) and 6.8% (s_p = 0.0064) visit the parks sometimes per month and sometimes per year accordingly. A total of 39.9% (s_p = 0.0124) visit them rarely. No answer was received from 0.3% (s_p = 0.0013) of the participants.

The duration of visits lasts less than 25 min for the 52.6% (s_p = 0.0126) of the residents of Kalamaria. A total of 41.9% (s_p = 0.0125) visited parks for more than 25 min, while 5.4% (s_p = 0.0057) did not answer. A previous study conducted by [9] 10 years earlier in the same municipality showed that residents visit green areas rarely but spend a considerable amount of time there, with 45.5 percent of the population affirming that their visits last more than 55 min, while 41.3 percent of them spent less time visiting parks.

Moreover, 38.4% (s_p = 0.0123) of the residents usually visit parks and green spaces alone, while 47.1% (s_p = 0.0126) come to the parks with their mates and 13.5% (s_p = 0.0086) with friends or 28.4% (s_p = 0.0114) with her children or grandchildren. A total of 2.4% (s_p = 0.0038) did not answer the question. According to the previous study mentioned above [10], 51.2% of the residents stated that urban green spaces and parks are places to spend time with friends, and 51.3 found parks as good for spending time with their families and having fun [10].

Afterward, in the second part of the study, residents were asked to answer the question and choose between two figures of Molnar and Rutledge [11] that depict two different kinds of benches (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The first bench encourages communication and the development of interpersonal relations. The second bench helps visitors with isolation and loneliness. According to the results, 55.2% of the interviewees (s_p = 0.0126) chose the bench that favors communication between visitors of the parks, and 41% (s_p = 0.0124) preferred the bench for isolation. No answered 3.8% (s_p = 0.0048) (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

3.2. The Design of UGI

According to Tsalikidis [12], when we design green spaces, we pass from the meaning of the maintenance of a natural landscape (for example, a protected area) to the designing and construction of an artificial landscape that makes the users feel close to nature or a beautiful and useful environment. Among the two, the natural and the artificial, there are numerous combinations approaching with different ways according to the aesthetics, the knowledge and the experience of the manager or the constructor of the place, and the limitations (legal, financial, etc.) they have.

About the landscape of Kalamaria, six to ten of the residents find it more artificial (58.2%, s_p = 0.0125) and only one to ten more natural (9.8%, s_p = 0.0075). The rest of them characterize the landscape as artificial and natural in balance (31.4%, s_p = 0.0117). A total of 0.6% did not answer (s_p = 0.0075).

Regarding the design of the green spaces in their municipality, the vast majority of residents (82.9%, s_p = 0.0095) argued they are simple, while 16.9% (s_p = 0.0095) found them too complicated. A total of 0.2% (s_p = 0.0011) of the residents did not answer the question. For the designing of the buildings, most residents describe them as simple 73.5% (s_p = 0.0112), while one to ten, 25.9% (s_p = 0.0111), stated that they are extremely complex. No answer was received from 0.6% (s_p = 0.0020) of the residents.

According to Tsalikidis [13], the success of the design depends mainly on four factors: (a) The section shows the relations, for example, house and garden (b) functionality that shows the relation between different countries with the need of the user. (c) The simplicity affects the aesthetic and the financial succession of the project, and (d) the scale that determines the right relation of the elements’ landscape.

The residents of Kalamaria evaluate the unity between green spaces and neighboring buildings as a very important element for 18.9% (s_p = 0.0099), important for 36.6% (s_p = 0.0122), mediocre for 28.4% (s_p = 0.0114), unimportant for 13.8% (s_p = 0.0087) and for 2.1% (s_p = 0.0036) very unimportant. No answer was received from 0.2% (s_p = 0.0011).

Also evaluated was the functionality of the green spaces, that is, different spaces satisfied different users considered as very important for 25.2% (s_p = 0.0110), important for 32% (s_p = 0.0118), mediocre for 23.9% (s_p = 0.0108), unimportant for 13.3% (s_p = 0.0086), and very unimportant for 5.3% (s_p = 0.0057). A total of 0.2% (s_p = 0.0011) did not answer.

Then, the respondents were asked how important it is that urban green constitutes an imitation of nature. Specifically important, 45.2% (s_p = 0.0126) and very important 28.4% (s_p = 0.0114) of the respondents considered it accordingly. A total of 20.5% (s_p = 0.0102) stated it is mediocre, 4.5% (s_p = 0.0052) unimportant, and 1.15% (s_p = 0.0027) think it is very unimportant. A total of 0.2% (s_p = 0.0011) and 0.3% (s_p = 0.0113) did not answer.

It is important for 41.8% (s_p = 0.0125) and very important for 25.1% (s_p = 0.0110) for the residents’ infrastructure to be the dominant element of the park. On the contrary, about one to four residents, 26.8% (s_p = 0.0112), stated this was mediocre, while only a few, 5% (s_p = 0.0055), as unimportant, and 1% as very unimportant (s_p = 0.0025). A total of 0.3% (s_p = 0.0113) did not answer.

The respondents were asked if they knew about the activities of the group of residents or NGO (No Government Organizations) related to green urban designing of the Municipality of Kalamaria. Six to ten 57.6% (s_p = 0.0125) answered positively, that they know such activities and four to ten 39.2% (s_p = 0.0123) answered negatively. A total of 3.2% (s_p = 0.0044) did not answer.

A 49.9% (s_p = 0.0126) total of the respondents state that neither agree nor disagree with the activities of that groups (residents and MGO) related to the urban green designing of the municipality of Kalamaria, 22.1% (s_p = 0.0105) rather agree, 7.7% (s_p = 0.0067) rather disagree, 7.1% (s_p = 0.0065) agree and 6.1% (s_p = 0.0060) disagree. A total of 7.1% (s_p = 0.0065) did not answer.

To the question of whether green spaces help emigrants and refugees to socialization 38% (s_p = 0.0123) said that help was mediocre, 27% (s_p = 0.0112) very, 17.1% (s_p = 0.0095) little, 10.1% (s_p = 0.0076) not at all and 7.1% (s_p = 0.0065) absolutely. A total of 0.7% (s_p = 0.0021) did not answer.

4. Conclusions and Proposals

The municipality of Kalamaria is in a beautiful seaside region of Thessaloniki, however, half of the residents characterize the green spaces as mediocre and four to ten visit green spaces rarely, and one to four residents, sometimes per week or per month. The duration of the visits lasts less than 25 min for most of the residents.

According to Panagopoulos et al. [2] in research conducted in the same municipality, residents visit the pavements there at least once a week and their visits last 46–60 min.

Also, the improvement of the aesthetics of the urban landscape and peoples’ quality of life are evaluated as important functions of pavement offer.

Residents usually visit parks with his/her mate or alone and the majority choose the bench that encourages communication and the development of interrelations. Less of the residents choose benches that help the isolation and loneliness. Consequently, except for the necessity for better design of green spaces, giving priority to the creation of spaces gives isolation to the residents and satisfies their needs. Also, it is a point for better study of the low percentage of visits to green spaces with the children or grandchildren.

The degradation of the ecosystems and the environmental urban development creates a new tendency to create urban installations with sustainable orientation. The designing of sustainable cities plays a very important role in the improvement of the quality of the environment [14]. The designers must balance the needs of social, financial, and environmental sustainability and conclude with relevant solutions and practical compromises [15]. Almost six to ten residents of Kalamaria perceive the landscape of the city as artificial. The vast majority of them evaluate the design of the green spaces and the buildings as simple and not exaggerated.

Gill et al. [16] say that animals and humans see the environment during movement and not only to stop and between movements. Probably they see better during their movement. The observer who moves every day sees what we say is “path observation”. When we go from one place to another we have opens in front of the view and the close behind the view. The hidden and the obvious become one unit environment like we are everywhere, concurrently.

During the design of the parks, we had to create observation routes not only one landscape or a figure but a sum of thematic unities. The residents during the design understand as important and very important that urban green constitutes an imitation of nature. Also, the infrastructure is the dominant element of the park. There is unity between green spaces and neighboring buildings. Finally, the green space helps with the socialization of immigrants and refugees.