Challenging negative perceptions of everyday leisure spaces in a superdiverse neighbourhood

Vodicka, G. 2017. Challenging negative perceptions of everyday leisure spaces in a superdiverse neighbourhood. RGS-­IBG Annual International Conference. London, UK 29 Aug - 01 Sep 2017

TitleChallenging negative perceptions of everyday leisure spaces in a superdiverse neighbourhood
AuthorsVodicka, G.
TypeConference paper
Abstract

Drawing on data from a wider research project exploring intercultural sociability in everyday public spaces through interdisciplinary socio-spatial enquiry, this paper will focus on migrant leisure spaces and their relationships to community wellbeing. Located in Sheffield, the research focuses on a superdiverse neighbourhood that, in the last few years, has become known for the tensions between its resident communities. These seem primarily to relate to the use of public open spaces by groups of relatively recently arrived Eastern Europeans of mostly Roma background. However, despite this generally negative portrayal of the area, some positive aspects of the use of outdoor spaces have been identified. These include various benefits for the wellbeing of local communities and experiences of living with difference. The paper will specifically discuss the role of local parks as leisure spaces for social inclusion as well as the constraints on this and the emergence of negotiating strategies amongst the residents. The focus will be on several parks, which differ in terms of their spatiality, character and main users. The methodology draws on ethnography and includes intense observation, collaborative group activities, and formal and informal interviews with everyday users of those spaces. Furthermore, the paper argues the need for a deep, on-going and critical reflection on ethical issues, for example ensuring that the participants themselves benefit from their engagement in the research processes.

Keywordspublic space, parks, urban design, superdiversity, ethnography
Year2017
ConferenceRGS-­IBG Annual International Conference
Web address (URL) of conference proceedingshttp://conference.rgs.org/AC2017/189
Web address (URL)http://conference.rgs.org/AC2017/189

Related outputs

Programming Parks. How do Organized Events and Activities Affect the Inclusivity of Urban Green Spaces?
Smith, A., Osborn, G. and Vodicka, G. 2024. Programming Parks. How do Organized Events and Activities Affect the Inclusivity of Urban Green Spaces? Journal of Leisure Research. 55 (3), pp. 344-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2023.2210563

The Festivalisation of London’s Parks: The Friends’ Perspective
Andrew Smith, Guy Osborn and Goran Vodicka 2022. The Festivalisation of London’s Parks: The Friends’ Perspective. in: Andrew Smith, Guy Osborn and Bernadette Quinn (ed.) Festivals and the City: The Contested Geographies of Urban Events University of Westminster.

Private events in a public park: Contested music festivals and socio-spatial justice in Finsbury Park, London
Smith, A., Osborn, G. and Vodicka, G. 2022. Private events in a public park: Contested music festivals and socio-spatial justice in Finsbury Park, London. in: Plüschke-Altof, B. and Sooväli-Sepping, H. (ed.) Whose Green City? Springer. pp. 83-102

Education for 21st Century Urban and Spatial Planning: Critical Postmodern Pedagogies
Lamb, T. and Vodicka, G. 2021. Education for 21st Century Urban and Spatial Planning: Critical Postmodern Pedagogies. in: Frank, A. and da Rosa Pires, A. (ed.) Teaching Urban and Regional Planning: Innovative Pedagogies in Practice Cheltenham, UK Edward Elgar. pp. 20-38

Staging city events in public spaces: an urban design perspective
Smith, A., Vodicka, G., Colombo, A., Lindström K., McGillivray, D. and Quinn, B. 2021. Staging city events in public spaces: an urban design perspective . International Journal of Events and Festival Management. 12 (2), pp. 224-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-10-2020-0063

Events in London's parks: the friends' perspective
Smith, A. and Vodicka, G. 2020. Events in London's parks: the friends' perspective. London Festspace. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3878727

Co-responsibility and the multiplicities of co-
Udall, J., Vardy, S., Vodicka, G. and McCloskey, P. 2019. Co-responsibility and the multiplicities of co-. (Im)possible Complicities. Berlin, Germany 23 - 24 May 2019

Constituent relations across the city: Three perspectives from practice
Vodicka, G., Udall, J., Vardy, S. and Mccloskey, P. 2019. Constituent relations across the city: Three perspectives from practice. (Im)possible Complicities. Berlin, Germany 23 - 24 May 2019 https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28802.12481

Ethnographic understandings of ethnically diverse neighbourhoods to inform urban design practice
Rishbeth, C., Ganji, F. and Vodicka, G. 2018. Ethnographic understandings of ethnically diverse neighbourhoods to inform urban design practice. Local Environment. 23 (1), pp. 36-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2017.1385000

Collective autonomy and multilingual spaces in super-diverse urban contexts: Interdisciplinary perspectives
Lamb, T. and Vodicka, G. 2018. Collective autonomy and multilingual spaces in super-diverse urban contexts: Interdisciplinary perspectives. in: Murray, G. and Lamb, T. (ed.) Space, Place and Autonomy in Language Learning Abingdon, Oxon and New York Routledge. pp. 9-28

Design for Diversity: Intercultural Outdoor Places
Rishbeth, C., Vodicka, G. and Ganji, F. 2016. Design for Diversity: Intercultural Outdoor Places. Sheffield, UK University of Sheffield.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/qvvx2/challenging-negative-perceptions-of-everyday-leisure-spaces-in-a-superdiverse-neighbourhood


Restricted files

Accepted author manuscript

Under embargo indefinitely

Share this

Usage statistics

179 total views
3 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.