Various Aspects of Public Gardens: What Would Jane Jacobs Say for This Project

Abstract

It can be argued that as a society, we are in a divided situation with respect to our outlook on trees. On the one hand, there are the supporters of natural ecosystem, and on the other, a viewpoint that sees the tree as a worthless obstacle. In this societal context, although the public garden project that has been on the agenda of our cities since 2018 appears to be a positive attempt, considering the open and green space need in particularly large cities, this project has multiple aspects that should be examined thoroughly. In this paper, the topic of public gardens is evaluated based on previous research with its ecological, economic, political, symbolic-ideological, and socio-cultural dimensions. Following this evaluation, the topic's planning dimension is discussed by drawing on Jane Jacobs' analyses, particularly regarding neighbourhood parks in her work, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. In this study, an answer to the question of "What would Jane Jacobs say for the public gardens?" is searched for through interpretations and evaluations, inspired by Jacobs' aforementioned book. In this way, the topic of public gardens on the Turkish cities' agenda is problematized with the same analytical attitude that Jacobs adopted against the traditional urban planning understanding.