Residents’ values and experiences of public and private green space in a new greenfield housing estate

Abstract

Public and private green spaces in new residential estates have a unique role in contributing to the establishment of new communities, yet the values that residents assign to these spaces are unexplored. In this study, we aimed to take a values-based approach to understanding residents’ experiences of public and private green spaces in a new greenfield residential estate in Victoria, Australia. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 residents living in the estate. Interview data were analysed thematically with a codebook, and three key dimensions of assigned values for urban green spaces were identified: psychological and experiential, natural and ecological, and social values. Social values of public green space were most important to interviewees, particularly in supporting a sense of community cohesion and identity in the new estate. Further, we found that residents value private and public green spaces for affording practices of care and stewardship, though opportunities for practicing care in public spaces were limited. The results demonstrate the importance of the nearby neighbourhood parks in the estate to which all residents have easy access, and the benefit of links between public and private outdoor spaces to reinforce a sense of belonging and connection. Community events and opportunities for stewardship in public green spaces, supported by developers, local councils and land managers, hold promise for building connections to community and place in the early years of new estate development.