‘We want to understand the needs, wishes and challenges of the citizens,’ says Carmen Anthonj, Associate Professor at ITC Faculty and lead of the research. As she explains, the study involving Enschede citizens relates to bigger projects focused on the role of green and blue spaces and their impact on people’s wellbeing.
There are many benefits of green and blue spaces in cities, explains Anthonj. These spaces, such as parks, forests, rivers and ponds, absorb urban heat, making the area cooler. They can also be used for retaining water and therefore prevent flooding. Moreover, the spaces have restorative effects on people’s health leading to less stress and anxiety, higher productivity and more positive emotions.
‘Green and blue spaces also increase social cohesion in the area because they bring people together,’ adds Javier Martinez from ITC. ‘They offer more possibilities for physical activity because they provide more attractive places for people to walk, play and exercise.’
Twekkelerveld
The ITC scientists are running a study focused on Twekkelerveld, an Enschede neighborhood adjacent to the UT campus. ‘We chose this location because of its very close proximity to the university,' states Martinez. 'It's one of our direct neighbors and an important part of our community.’
‘Moreover, it’s a very diverse and cosmopolitan area which makes it different from other neighborhoods,’ adds Anthonj. ‘Lastly, many students live in the area, making it all the more relevant for the UT.’
The neighborhood, like many urban areas, also has a lot of potential to become greener. ‘If you look at the map of Enschede, Twekkelerveld is an area with a high density of buildings compared to other parts of the city,’ clarifies Anthonj. ‘Another reason for selecting Twekkelerveld is its diverse community. Access to public blue and green spaces is beneficial for all, particularly in areas with disadvantaged groups where there may be fewer private gardens.’
Projects on blue and green spaces
Carmen Anthonj, Associate Professor of Water, Health and Decisions at the ITC Faculty, leads the case study in Enschede, which relates to research on Co-Designing Climate-Sensitive Blue and Green Spaces with Vulnerable Urban Populations, a collaboration project funded under the VU-UT Alliance and Coalition Responsible Societies.
The study also aligns with the broader goals of the Horizon Europe project WISER (Well-Being in a Sustainable Economy Revisited), which is led by Javier Martinez, Associate Professor of Urban Quality of Life and Inequalities at ITC Faculty. WISER focuses on the role of green and blue spaces and their impact on people’s well-being, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Close collaboration
The UT researchers are already closely collaborating with the municipality and, as of this spring, they plan to directly involve the local citizens. ‘We want to co-design public blue and green spaces with residents based on their own needs and desires. We are very interested in understanding their perspectives on the built and natural environment, and how it impacts their wellbeing,’ says Martinez.
And they will be applying the latest technologies. ‘For instance, we will use a new AI tool from UrbanistAI through which the participants can easily indicate what they would like to change in their neighborhood. The tool displays photos of Twekkelerveld and allows the people to directly change these photos. For example, they can add more trees, benches, water fountains, and so on,’ says Martinez. ‘It’s very easy to use even though what’s behind it is very elaborate. It’s a great tool to communicate with the people and see what they need in terms of green and blue spaces.’
Carmen Anthonj, Associate Professor of Water, Health and Decisions at the ITC Faculty.
Deep dive
The case study will run for about a year and ‘dive deep’ into the needs of the neighborhood, explains Anthonj. ‘We decided to not focus on the whole city because every neighborhood in Enschede is very unique. People strongly identify with their neighborhood. This sense of belonging is very important because by improving the environment, and feeling responsible for the quality of their neighborhood, people also improve their entire community.’
‘We see this as an opportunity to bring citizens and decision-makers closer together’
According to the scientists, the Enschede municipality is very interested in the results of the study. ‘They especially appreciate the co-design approach. They already involve citizens in the planning and decision-making process, where possible, but it is often difficult to get them to participate,’ says Anthonj. ‘We see this as an opportunity to bring citizens and decision-makers closer together. We hope to provide input for the city’s plans and planning.’
The scientist also hopes to raise awareness about the different needs of the many population subgroups. ‘Even just one neighborhood is a very diverse community, but different groups of people are often not considered,’ points out Anthonj.
Overall, the UT research aims to understand the challenges, wishes and values of the citizens, and to pilot a new approach to decision making. ‘We want to know what problems they face and how blue and green spaces can improve their wellbeing,’ says Martinez. ‘I see the project as a good opportunity to practice the engagement with our direct neighbors, with our community – both with the residents and the municipality.’
