Being Together in Urban Parks: Connecting Public Space, Leisure, and Diversity

TLDR

Western countries, including the Netherlands, face political challenges around integration and social cohesion amid racial tensions, prompting government policies to encourage interactions between natives and migrants. The study investigates how interethnic interactions manifest during leisure activities in ethnically diverse urban parks. The authors employed observational studies and semi‑structured interviews to capture interactions and meanings within urban parks. Findings indicate that interethnic interactions were limited, yet participants from diverse backgrounds appreciated being together in parks.

Abstract

Western countries are facing serious political issues regarding integration and social cohesion in multicultural societies and migration. Dutch society is engaged with these issues in the context of current racial tensions and conflicts. The government recently introduced policy measures to foster interactions between Dutch natives and ethnic migrant groups to promote integration. This research explores the extent and nature of interethnic interactions by focusing on leisure activities in the public spaces of ethnically mixed neighborhoods. Observations and semi-structured interviews are used to gather information about the interactions in and the meaning of urban public spaces. Results show that although not many interethnic interactions occurred, people from various ethnic backgrounds valued being together in parks.