Urban green spaces for inclusive wellbeing: a path of co-creation

The Health Community Lab (HCL) on well-being in the urban green areas of District 1 (Q1) of the city of Florence has promoted a co-creation process to transform urban green spaces into a real infrastructure for health, socialising and equity. Through three focus groups involving 33 local organisations and a co-creative workshop with institutions and citizens' associations, the project identified the community's priority needs (free, accessible and safe public spaces, especially for the elderly, caregivers, young people and vulnerable individuals) and developed a shared action plan for the management and use of the former Camping Michelangelo area, including proposals such as: lightweight furniture, shade and water, improved accessibility to local public transport, a shared calendar of activities and forms of civic co-management of the park. The demographic context of District 1 (63,528 residents; 24.9% over 65; 60.9% single-person households; 22.6% foreigners) requires local spaces that combat loneliness and fragmentation and reduce physical, economic and perceptual barriers to the use of green spaces. Scientific evidence and international guidelines (WHO, 2017) confirm that well-designed and participatory green spaces improve physical and mental health, social cohesion and climate resilience; to maximise impact, proximity, safety, shade/water, essential services and active community involvement are needed. The results show high interest and good agency on the part of the actors involved, but also some critical issues: a fragmented network of associations, uneven operational commitment and infrastructural obstacles (accessibility, toilets, transport). Hence the recommendations: establish stable participatory governance (committee/umbrella association), define minimum standards of usability, activate intergenerational programmes and initiate light and continuous monitoring of well-being, agency and use of spaces to guide adjustments.