Urban greenspace to support social integration of immigrants? Case studies across Sweden

The successful integration of immigrants into European societies has become a crucial policy issue in the past decade. Urban greenspace (UGS) provides social spaces for people with different ethnic backgrounds; however, the relationships between the social integration of immigrants with the reciving society and UGS have attracted relatively little research interest. This study aims to explore the role of UGS in enhancing the social integration of first-generation immigrants in Sweden (“new- Swedes”) by focusing on four forms of social integration: structural, interactive, cultural, and identificational. We draw on a sample of 280 interviews with new-Swedes from nine urban settlements in Sweden. Our results show that UGS in Sweden provides multiple opportunities for interactive integration among people from diverse cultures, including the receiving society, and that the accessibility, quality, and availability of UGS are crucial for structural integration. Although UGS do not primarily serve as venues for developing new relationships between new and native Swedes, they do facilitate social interactions within families and cultural communities. Additionally, UGS expose new Swedes to Swedish cultural norms regarding outdoor recreation. Our findings underscore the importance of critical infrastructure in promoting social interaction and integration. Active roles of immigrants in UGS planning and management will ensure that their needs and interests are considered in UGS design and offer important opportunities to be better connected to the receiving society. Finally, understanding the potential contribution of UGS also requires understanding the extent and depth of such integration.