Urban Parks as an Innovative Social Space and a Factor of Social and Environmental Welfare

Abstract

The relevance of the study is supported by the fact that the key requirements for modern urban parks are their compliance with the needs of public space, along with their high importance in performing environmental functions. Public and environmental criteria for the construction of parks often contradict one another. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to present a clear integrated approach to solving the problem of developing urban parks in Ukraine and provide proposals for their additional financial and institutional support. The main direction of the methodology of scientific research was the system approach, namely its aspects: system-element, system-functional, system-resource and system-communication. The study revealed the importance of promoting parks as public space, and determined their recreational value for residents of modern metropolitan areas, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of programmatic support for ecosystem services groups of parks that will contribute to their effective operation in terms of social and ecological significance is substantiated. It is proposed to introduce tax incentives and non-market forms of support for enterprises, institutions and organizations that would encourage them to participate in the improvement of parks as one of the ways to solve the lack of funding for parks and stimulate their development. It is indicated that the amount of tax benefits depends on the activity of entrepreneurs in improving parks and creating new green areas, and act on a voluntary basis. The practical value of the work lies in the fact that the recommendations can be used by the authorities in the process of developing programs for the maintenance, financing and operation of parks, in order to increase their environmental and social effectiveness in the welfare of cities