A public square management system model for local governments: The example of Uskudar Square

It is important to protect and sustain the areas (squares, parks, monumental areas, etc.) that form the image of cities with their presence in historical cities. The contribution of urban design projects prepared for such areas to these goals is an undeniable fact (Özalp, 2008). From the moment urbanization started, public squares have become a meeting point, a socialization area, and a service interface served by management units for the community. Considering the reason that make the squares so important, it is vital to define and measure the success criteria for their management. Undoubtedly, the satisfaction of those who use the squares is a priority from the perspective of local governments. From this point of view, the success criteria can be defined according to the main factors defining the main functions of city public squares such as transportation, security, environment, etc. The purpose of this study can be summarized under two points: (i) Firstly, to determine the criteria that make the management of a city square successful in the eyes of the public, and to propose a City Square Management System model. (ii) Secondly, to evaluate the urban space management performance of Üsküdar Square, with its very rich history one of the most important symbols of Istanbul, according to the proposed model. In this context, the renovation and infrastructure projects related to Üsküdar Square between 2016 and 2020 were evaluated with the relevant Directorate of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and the success criteria were determined through literature review and preliminary interviews. Then, experts assessed the importance of these success criteria with Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Next, questionnaire was designed in the light of the significance values obtained in the previous stage. Considering the significance scores, 'Square Usage' and 'Expectation from the Square' surveys were conducted. In the field study, opinions, satisfaction and expectations of the citizens regarding the use of the square were determined. Considering the results of the study, satisfaction from the redesigned Üsküdar Square was found to be acceptable. Especially the transportation infrastructure of the square, which has developed in recent years, has ensured the main criterion of the "Transportation" a high score. However, the square was found insufficient in terms of environment and aesthetics.