Notwithstanding the "back-to-the-city" process taking place in pockets of Johannesburg's inner city, the area investigated in this study is still perceived by some observers as one of decline and is associated with criminal activities. Although Johannesburg's parks and open spaces have been subjected to urban decline over the past decades, they are currently undergoing urban revitalisation. This study investigates the size and user-friendliness of the open spaces and parks accessible to inner-city residents. It also considers current conditions and the level and effectiveness of the maintenance services available. Furthermore, it examines the regeneration strategies of Johannesburg, determining through them the specific provisions made for parks and open spaces by the local metropolitan council. The study determines that the redevelopment of parks and open spaces has been adequately incorporated into Johannesburg's urban regeneration plans. However, certain constraints are thwarting progress in implementing such improvements. The unique dynamics of the inner city pose a significant challenge to maintaining parks and open spaces, and these should be properly understood and planned for. There also appears to be a need for fairer and more efficient allocation of resources and for forging more effective partnerships. The study concludes that the needs of the community will only be met once these management issues have been prioritised and addressed.

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First and foremost, I would like to thank the Lord who has planted in me the dream, and provided me with courage to pursue my Master's at UCT. I did not walk this road alone and found strength in Him. My supervisor, Sophie Oldfield, has welcomed me as a new and unfamiliar student with the most incredible knowledge and guidance and has been there for me every step of the way. Thank you for the passionate scholar that you are, your time, and for always believing in this thesis and in me. It has been such a pleasure to be your student! I would also like to thank the various persons who were so willing to share their time and knowledge with me, allowing me to map more and more of the story told in this thesis. To my parents and my twin sister. Thank you for the wonderful support system that you are, and have always been. Thank you for the prayers, the hugs, the daily phone calls and encouraging words. Most of all, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to spread my wings.

Revitalizacija parkov in odprtih prostorov v središču JohannesburgaKljub procesu »vračanja v mestno središče«, značilnem za določene otoke v središču Johannesburga, nekateri opazovalci preučevano območje še vedno dojemajo kot propadajoče in ga povezujejo s kriminalom. Čeprav so parki in odprti prostori v Johannesburgu zadnja desetletja propadali, se zdaj obnavljajo. V članku avtorja preučujeta velikost odprtih prostorov in parkov, dostopnih prebivalcem mestnega središča, in kako prijazni so ti uporabnikom. Poleg tega ocenjujeta njihovo trenutno stanje ter raven in učinkovitost razpoložljivih vzdrževalnih storitev. Avtorja preučujeta tudi strategije prenove, ki jih je uvedla mestna občina Johannesburg, na njihovi podlagi pa tudi posebna določila, ki jih je za parke in odprte prostore sprejel lokalni metropolitanski svet. Ugotovitve kažejo, da je sanacija parkov in odprtih prostorov ustrezno vključena v načrte mestne prenove, vendar določene omejitve ovirajo izvedbo tovrstnih izboljšav. Edinstvena dinamika mestnega središča pomeni velik izziv pri vzdrževanju parkov in odprtih prostorov, zato jo je treba ustrezno razumeti in načrtovati ustrezne ukrepe. Pojavlja se tudi potreba po pravičnejši in učinkovitejši dodelitvi virov in po oblikovanju učinkovitejših partnerstev. Končna ugotovitev raziskave je, da bodo potrebe skupnosti zadovoljene šele, ko bodo tovrstna upravljavska vprašanja postavljena v ospredje in se bodo začela ustrezno reševati.

No abstract available