**5. Proposed redesign and structure for management and maintenance of Papine Park and Papine**

Proposed design were presented to the stakeholders at community meetings organized by the Papine Area Development Committee, the umbrella organizations representing various civic associations in designated Papine University Town local planning area. There were approximately four meetings to arrive at a final redesign of the Park. Below are artist renditions which incorporated the changes.

To address the issues of safety and security the design incorporated covered bus stops, planting trees and other vegetation for shading from the sun and reducing the heat island effect in the area, solar lighting, and a multi-story pavilion to house a police outpost and information center. The design also included underground parking to accommodate approximately 20 cars. This would remove cars from the roadway and limit traffic congestion in and around the park. This would be supported by the recommendation to re-route traffic via the road way behind the University of Technology. The design also considered designated seated areas for public gatherings and general seating. Based on the analysis of the SOPARC data more than 54% of the park users were observed to be seated or lying down. Only 6.7% of the users were involved in vigorous physical activities such as running (**Figures 7** and **8**).

The leadership of the University of Technology, Jamaica and the University of the West Indies is mindful of the great expectations that are likely to emerge from residents of the surrounding areas. The leadership has also become concerned that elected officials and other decision-makers might become reliant on the universities since their involvement in the planning and development of activities in the Papine Local Planning Area. In several focus group meetings regarding the park design, residents and public officials indicated the need for an appropriate governance/ management structure of the university town. The members of the focus groups interviewed for this project are of the view that an entity should be created with

**359**

**Figure 8.**

**Figure 7.**

*Artist impression of park proposal.*

*Jamaican Universities Aiding the Design of an Urban Public Space*

representatives from the relevant stakeholder group to assist with the construction and/or implementation and maintenance of the Papine Park once it is redesigned. The focus groups believe that for any development to be effective and sustained

in the Papine University Town, the establishment of a management structure is critical. The proposed structure is in keeping with the Town Centre Manager concept introduced in 2013 by the Ministry of Local Government and Community

*Showing Papine bypass to ease congestion in Papine Square.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89448*

*Jamaican Universities Aiding the Design of an Urban Public Space DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89448*

**Figure 7.** *Artist impression of park proposal.*

*Sustainability in Urban Planning and Design*

**Papine Park and Papine**

assumed that more women were represented in the survey because of the likelihood of women to respond to surveys. Majority of those interviewed were between the ages of 20–34. A total of 65 persons fit within this age group. Few senior or persons between the ages of 65–80 were interviewed. Five persons interviewed reported that they were between 65 and 80 years old. Similarly, 17 respondents reported that they were 19 years old or less. This group is identified as the school age population in Jamaica. It is likely that they were represented in small numbers because the survey was conducted in August while most schools were on summer recess. As it relates to employment status, 71 respondents reported that they were employed, 27 indicated that they were students, 7 were unemployed and 4 retired. One person stated that they are unemployed because of their disability. Two persons did not respond. Based on how the question was posed, it was not clear how many of those employed were "self-employed." While a significant number of the people interviewed reported that they were employed, it is likely that they were in the

The respondents were asked how often they used the park. Thirty-two respondents (28%) indicated that they used the park every day. Forty-three respondents (37%) stated that they use the park anywhere from two to five times per day. Thirty-eight respondents indicated that they seldom used the park or use it once in a while. The question on frequency of use did not specify or define the type of use; hence, it is likely that those who walk through to access public transportation or retail stores on either side of the park might not describe this as "using." The study did not highlight any significant difference in the frequency of use based on gender.

**5. Proposed redesign and structure for management and maintenance of** 

Proposed design were presented to the stakeholders at community meetings organized by the Papine Area Development Committee, the umbrella organizations representing various civic associations in designated Papine University Town local planning area. There were approximately four meetings to arrive at a final redesign

To address the issues of safety and security the design incorporated covered bus stops, planting trees and other vegetation for shading from the sun and reducing the heat island effect in the area, solar lighting, and a multi-story pavilion to house a police outpost and information center. The design also included underground parking to accommodate approximately 20 cars. This would remove cars from the roadway and limit traffic congestion in and around the park. This would be supported by the recommendation to re-route traffic via the road way behind the University of Technology. The design also considered designated seated areas for public gatherings and general seating. Based on the analysis of the SOPARC data more than 54% of the park users were observed to be seated or lying down. Only 6.7% of the users were involved in vigorous physical activities such as running (**Figures 7** and **8**). The leadership of the University of Technology, Jamaica and the University of the West Indies is mindful of the great expectations that are likely to emerge from residents of the surrounding areas. The leadership has also become concerned that elected officials and other decision-makers might become reliant on the universities since their involvement in the planning and development of activities in the Papine Local Planning Area. In several focus group meetings regarding the park design, residents and public officials indicated the need for an appropriate governance/ management structure of the university town. The members of the focus groups interviewed for this project are of the view that an entity should be created with

of the Park. Below are artist renditions which incorporated the changes.

vicinity of the park as they transitioned between work and home.

**358**

**Figure 8.** *Showing Papine bypass to ease congestion in Papine Square.*

representatives from the relevant stakeholder group to assist with the construction and/or implementation and maintenance of the Papine Park once it is redesigned.

The focus groups believe that for any development to be effective and sustained in the Papine University Town, the establishment of a management structure is critical. The proposed structure is in keeping with the Town Centre Manager concept introduced in 2013 by the Ministry of Local Government and Community

Development. The concept of Town Centre Manager, while new to Jamaica, has been in existence in Europe and North America for several decades. Andrés et al. [7] postulate that the town center management is more relevant now than before, as growing mega cities compete for prosperity on a global scale. They further noted that in the early days of its development in the United Kingdom, Town Center Management (TCM) was seen primarily as a response to external factors and "a comprehensive response to competitive pressures, which involves development, management and promotion of both public and private areas within town centers, for the benefit of all concerned" (p. 75). More importantly, they are also of the view that the Town Centre Management implies a co-operative rather than confrontational relationship with the private sector and all other stakeholders while striving to retain a local identity. The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, representatives from the University of Technology, and representatives of the civil society are currently in dialog with the local planning authority to establish a town center manager to oversee planning regulatory functions and assist with the management of the Park once it is redesigned.

While Andrés et al. [7] is a major proponent of a structured approach to town center management, Reeve [8], on the other hand, has concerns about the town center structure. He sees this structure being heavily influenced by the private sector or serving mainly its interest. He also argued that in general the management structure for most town centers across Europe are not elected by the people and thus making their accountability to the people questionable. Mindful of Reeve criticism of the town center management structure, based on the responses from the focus groups and surveys, the proposed structure below (see **Figure 6**) includes a management board with representatives from the political directorate in the form of the Member of Parliament(s) representing the national government and councilors from the local government. In addition, the other proposed members include representatives from the universities, civil society, business interests and other stakeholders. These members would appoint the town center manager and provide oversight for the implementation of development activities in the local planning area designated as The Papine University Town (**Figure 9**).

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*Jamaican Universities Aiding the Design of an Urban Public Space*

Activities undertaken by higher education institutions across the globe demonstrates that these institutions are important assets to assist regional, national and local governments with achieving sustainable development, particularly those targeted and measured for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Small Island Developing States such as Jamaica, with limited resources have to rely heavily on higher education institutions to use cutting-edge research and technological advances to provide workable solutions for sustainable development. One of the primary areas that the universities assisted the government was collecting, analyzing, and mapping of data for the area around the Papine Park. The municipal government with responsibility for the management and maintenance of the park now has baseline data on the use of the park. This was the first of its kind

As highlighted above the two universities played a significant role in assisting the

government of Jamaica to plan, design, develop an urban public space. In addition, the researchers proposed a new framework to govern and manage the public space and the surrounding neighborhood. The proposed governance framework will help to increase participation of the residents in the decision making process; reduce inequalities; promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; improve human health and wellbeing; foster resilience; and protect the environment. This is one of the major commitments of the New Urban Agenda associated with Sustainable Development Goal 11—"Safe, Inclusive, and Resilient Neighborhoods, Towns and Cities." which Jamaica agreed to. In essence, the redesign and construction of Papine Park as proposed by the university allow Jamaica

The proposed design was achieved using the participatory approach which promoted the engagement of a wide cross section of users and potential users of the public park. As a result of the participatory approach used, residents and park users expressed a sense of ownership and belonging and knowledge of how the park should be designed. Safety and crime reduction, inclusiveness, accessibility and environmental sustainability were some of the major consideration voiced by the

The proposed design also gave due consideration to the multifunctional use of the areas for social interaction and inclusion, human health and well-being, economic exchange and cultural expression. In order for the multi-purpose park to serve future generations, the researchers proposed a governance and management framework that involves the major stakeholders in the decision making process. The involvement of the stakeholders will ensure that the design is implemented to meet

the need of the primary users based on their feedback of the design process.

park users and these concerns were included in the proposed design.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89448*

for the municipality and for Jamaica in general.

to demonstrate its commitment to SDG 11.

**6. Conclusion**

#### **Figure 9.**

*Proposed structure for the Papine university town local planning area.*
