Urban management and participation in planning of Düzce urban open and green areas

In the world we live in and sustain our existence, everything is in a state of change. This change has caused cities to transform over time and reach their current state. In recent years, urban open green spaces, which are a part of the aesthetic and architectural structures within cities, have gained importance through the concepts of participatory planning and designs that are in line with environmental conditions. Open and green spaces offer people opportunities to connect with nature, play, walk, and participate in sports, cultural, and social activities. However, improvements in these areas are often insufficient. This study aims to provide a comprehensive roadmap for an inventory, analysis, and synthesis of participation systems in the planning and design process of open and green spaces within the service boundaries of Düzce Municipality. Focusing on the city center of Düzce, this research seeks to determine the levels and stages of participation in the planning of open and green spaces, assess the participation methods used, their effectiveness, and the impacts of participation. Additionally, the study aims to identify how the participation processes defined in the literature make a practical difference in the re-planning of these areas based on the views of stakeholders and users, what the different levels and methods of participation are, and to establish criteria to measure the effectiveness of participation methods. The study is limited to the open and green spaces located in the city center within the service boundaries of Düzce Municipality and aims to provide a general framework for the participation processes in the region. As part of the research, 463 surveys were conducted with provincial employees of the ministries. Surveys with local residents were conducted in the neighborhoods of Kültür, Mergiç, Bahçelievler, Çamlıevler, Demetevler, Esentepe, Güzelbahçe, and Yeşiltepe, reaching a total of 1,186 individuals, including 45 pilot studies. The scientific data obtained from this study has provided a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of participation methods applied in urban management and open green space planning processes. The development of participation methods was discussed, and recommendations for improving effective methods were proposed. The levels of participation in urban management were analyzed, contributing to the literature. Keywords: Open and green space planning, Düzce, Participatory Planning, Urban Management