Community Garden Practices in High-Density High-Rise Urban Areas in Shanghai, China

Abstract

Chinese metropolises are increasingly facing environmental issues due to the high population density and the rapid expansion of urban construction. As a result, one of the tasks of current urban planning is to enhance public space quality. One of the ways is motivating community residents to participate in designing, maintaining, and managing the land. Community gardens represent a great solution to issues such as environmental pollution and green spaces decrease. This study aims to research the public and private strategies for creating community gardens in high-density areas in Shanghai. Two typical cases of community gardens are analyzed. Another goal is to provide references for inclusive participation and sustainable development of community gardens. The research shows that closer relationships between residents result in full participation in the planning process. Different strategies and solutions should be applied in various stages of the planning process. Despite the differences in the process, the two types of community gardens analyzed have the same aim. That is to encourage residents to pay more attention to their surrounding environment and participate actively in public affairs. Community gardens are a great attempt to realize sustainable ecosystems, harmonious neighborhood relations and nature education activities in densely populated metropolises.