Swedish green space management – The managers perspective

Abstract

This study has initiated the first stages of assessing the current state of Swedish parks through the use of a comprehensive survey sent to all Swedish park managers during the spring of 2016. The aim was to review the state of the Swedish public parks and undertake an assessment and analysis of the key issues and challenges that public parks in Sweden are currently facing. The Park Managers Survey was carried out as an online questionnaire sent to all local community (municipal) park managers and park departments in Sweden. The survey addressed issues of finance and resourcing; the quantity and quality of parks being managed; organizational arrangements for maintenance; information on park visitors and volunteers; and, issues of strategic policy making. The Swedish municipal green space managers regard the current quality of their green spaces to be fine and budgets for upkeep sufficient, just as they look optimistically into the nearest future. Their nearest future does not seem to have focus on voluntary support and alliances with local stakeholders in relation to the actual maintenance of green spaces. Both these trends contradict their UK counterparts. Swedish managers seem to be building a strong organization internally, and do not expect to increase the current use of private contractors. In general, we conclude that Swedish green space managers look optimistically to the nearest future.