IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section B

Abstract

In Chile, there is a shortage of maintained green areas, a situation highlighted by the Urban Development Indicators and Standards System, which reveals that out of 117 cities, 85% have less than 10 m2 per inhabitant. Viña del Mar, a city located on the Pacific Ocean coast, 100 km from Chile’s capital, Santiago, has less than 5 m2 per inhabitant. Additionally, these green spaces are concentrated in certain areas of the city, leaving many neighborhoods without consolidated green areas. Moreover, the designated areas for such purposes are abandoned, turning into vacant lots with deteriorated ecosystems, and becoming focal points for crime and insecurity. The municipality of Viña del Mar has initiated investment projects aimed at improving this situation by constructing urban parks co-designed with the community. The objective is to reclaim these spaces in harmony with their environmental value, eliminating conflict zones and transforming them into public spaces with appropriate and inclusive infrastructure. This proposal reviews these investments as solutions to urban, environmental, and social challenges. It presents the results of a socioeconomic analysis, concluding that the social benefits identified and valued by project beneficiaries outweigh their costs. Additionally, a governance proposal is introduced that includes the participation of local residents. Emphasizing the principles of co-design and co-governance, this approach aims to ensure the sustainability of these spaces.