Urban Allotment Gardens Research Articles

The Impact of Urban Allotment Gardens on Physical and Mental Health in Norway.

In Norway, many communities offer low-rent plots of land on which city dwellers can build summer cottages and grow crops. These allotment gardens serve as recreational escapes from urban life. However, little is known about the impact these gardens have on their members. This study attempts to shed light on today's impact of allotment gardens in a public health setting in Norway. The study was based on 17 semi-structured interviews and 2 in-depth interviews with allotment house owners. Informants were mainly recruited by "snowball sampling". Our data show that maintaining an allotment promotes exercise and provides a positive impact on self-perceived well-being and physical health through outdoor activities. Spending time in the garden contributes to new knowledge and experiences. Owning an allotment garden has provided new knowledge, new skills, new hobbies, and thereby an improvement in lifestyle. The allotment garden has a strong impact on perceived health, well-being, and sense of coherence (SOC) for the individuals. It promotes outdoor activities along with social interaction and can prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Microplastic contamination in soils of urban allotment gardens (Toruń, Poland)

Microplastic contamination in soils of urban allotment gardens (Toruń, Poland)

Prediction of Daily Ambient Temperature and Its Hourly Estimation Using Artificial Neural Networks in Urban Allotment Gardens and an Urban Park in Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain

Urban green spaces improve quality of life by mitigating urban temperatures. However, there are challenges in obtaining urban data to analyze and understand their influence. With the aim of developing innovative methodologies for this type of research, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were developed to predict daily and hourly temperatures in urban green spaces from sensors placed in situ for 41 days. The study areas were four urban allotment gardens (with dynamic and productive vegetation) and a forested urban park in the city of Valladolid, Spain. ANNs were built and evaluated from various combinations of inputs (X), hidden neurons (Y), and outputs (Z) under the practical rule of “making networks simple, to obtain better results”. Seven ANNs architectures were tested: 7-Y-5 (Y = 6, 7, …, 14), 6-Y-5 (Y = 6, 7, …, 14), 7-Y-1 (Y = 2, 3, …, 8), 6-Y-1 (Y = 2, 3, …, 8), 4-Y-1 (Y = 1, 2, …, 7), 3-Y-1 (Y = 1, 2, …, 7), and 2-Y-1 (Y = 2, 3, …, 8). The best-performing model was the 6-Y-1 ANN architecture with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.42 °C for the urban garden called Valle de Arán. The results demonstrated that from shorter data points obtained in situ, ANNs predictions achieve acceptable results and reflect the usefulness of the methodology. These predictions were more accurate in urban gardens than in urban parks, where the type of existing vegetation can be a decisive factor. This study can contribute to the development of a sustainable and smart city, and has the potential to be replicated in cities where the influence of urban green spaces on urban temperatures is studied with traditional methodologies.

Fungal-bacterial associations in urban allotment garden soils

The soil microbiome in urban agriculture has not received much attention to date despite its important role in soil functionality. In this work, we evaluated the composition and diversity of fungal and bacterial communities through DNA extraction and ITS/16S marker gene sequencing in 40 soil samples collected from 10 urban allotment garden areas in the city of Santiago de Compostela (northwestern Spain). Despite anthropogenic activities are expected to affect negatively the microbial diversity, the richness of both fungal and bacterial communities was comparable to that of soils from other urban land-use categories with lower anthropogenic influence, i.e., urban forests, urban grasslands, and urban agricultural fields. However, the deterministic effect of soil properties and geographical distances was almost negligible in the surveyed allotment gardens. Neutral community models confirmed that the fungal and bacterial communities followed a random distribution (pseudo-R2fungi|bacteria = 0.653 | 0.898) and that they were more random (tNSTfungi|bacteria = 0.54 | 0.74) compared to the other abovementioned land-use categories (tNSTfungi|bacteria = 0.46 | 0.67, p ≪ 0.001). Network analysis showed that in contrast to natural soils with lower anthropogenic influence, microbial associations formed very small modules; and frequently, microbial units remained unconnected. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that the soil microbial communities in the studied urban allotment gardens comprised a random assortment of microbes and their interactions, thereby supporting potential implications of anthropogenic activity for soil health and ultimately ecosystem functionality.

Contested Greenspace Solidarities?

Urban allotment gardens constitute urban natures with a rich history as well as potential public redevelopment land. While many cities in Europe struggle to protect allotment gardens from competing land-use forces, in Copenhagen, allotments are classified as valuable urban nature and enjoy special protection. We analyze the social and political conditions and consequences of this unique situation. Taking a closer look at the governance arrangements and what we refer to as asymmetric civic-public compromises enabling the protection, we show how this is resulting in new material conflicts between civic and municipal actors. We argue that the conflicts are related to the unresolved issue of competing visions of civic, green, and market sustainability shaping contemporary urban development in Copenhagen and beyond and which are starkly revealed within allotment gardens.

Parasitisation of Yponomeuta malinellus feeding on Crataegus monogyna in the allotment gardens in the city of Poznań, Poland

The apple ermine moth (Yponomeuta malinellus Zeller) is an economically important pest of apple trees and apple orchards. It is also a pest of ornamental trees and shrubs in urban habitats. The aim of our study was to determine the degree of parasitisation of the apple ermine moth pupae collected from the common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacquin) in the allotment gardens in Poznań, Poland, by parasitoids from the Ichneumonidae family, to determine parasitoid species and the dates when they start flying. Judged from the parasitisation of pupae, the parasitoids reduced the apple ermine moth population by 9.1% over the period 2014–2016. The apple ermine moth pupae were parasitised by the following six parasitoid species: Gelis areator (Panzer), Herpestomus brunnicornis (Gravenhorst), Itoplectis alternans (Gravenhorst), I. maculator (Fabricius), I. tunetana (Schmiedeknecht), and Pimpla turionushtana (Linnaeus). The most effective entomophages H. brunnicornis and I. tunetana reduced the apple ermine moth population by 3.2% and 2.7%, respectively. Our results suggest that the apple ermine population in urban allotment gardens exposed to heavy anthropogenic pressure can be reduced by parasitoids of the Ichneumonidae family. The degree of parasitisation of the moth in this particular urban habitat may be comparable to the degree of its parasitisation in orchards.

The Rich Diversity of Urban Allotment Gardens in Europe: Contemporary Trends in the Context of Historical, Socio-Economic and Legal Conditions

Urban allotment gardens (AGs) provide a unique combination of productive and recreational spaces for the inhabitants of European cities. Although the reasons behind the decision to have a plot, as well as the mode of use and gardening practices, are well recognised in the literature, these issues are mainly considered in relation to particular case studies within a single country. The regional diversity of European allotment gardens is still poorly understood, however. This knowledge gap became an incentive for us to carry out the present study. The research was conducted in seven countries: Austria, Estonia, Germany, France, Portugal, Poland and the UK. Surveys were used to assess the motivations of users regarding plot uses and gardening practices. Information was also collected during desk research and study visits, making use of available statistical data. Allotment gardens in Europe are currently very diverse, and vary depending on the historical, legal, economic and social conditions of a given country, and also as determined by geographical location. Three main types of plots were distinguished, for: cultivation, recreation–cultivation, and cultivation–recreation. The recreational use of AGs has replaced their use for food production in countries with a long history of urban gardening. The only exception is the UK. In some countries, the production of food on an AG plot is still its main function; however, the motivations for this are related to better quality and taste (the UK), as well as the economic benefits of self-grown fruits and vegetables (Portugal, Estonia). Among the wide range of motivations for urban gardening in Europe, there is increasing emphasis on active recreation, contact with nature and quality food supply.

Soil Quality as a Key Factor in Producing Vegetables for Home Consumption—A Case Study of Urban Allotments in Gorzów Wielkopolski (Poland)

The aim of the study was to analyse the quality of soil in urban allotment gardens in the context of the production of home-grown vegetables. The study was conducted on six allotment gardens (31 individual plots) in Gorzów Wielkopolski, a medium-sized Polish city with an average level of industrialisation. The following soil characteristics were analysed: pH, electric conductivity, organic matter, organic carbon, humus, total nitrogen, C:N ratio, NH4+-N, NO3-N−, P, K, Ca, Mg, SO4−-S, Cl, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb. The analyses showed that the soils were abundant in necessary nutrients for vegetable growing. They had high content of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. However, the soil pH in areas of vegetable cropping was too high. The content of toxic heavy metals—cadmium (0.22–0.59 mg∙kg−1 d.m.) and lead (3.46–16.89 mg∙kg−1 d.m.)—was within the acceptable limits. Nevertheless, the chemical analysis of carrots used as test vegetables showed that the permissible limits of cadmium and lead content in their roots were exceeded. The excessive uptake of these toxic metals can be reduced by lowering the soil pH and applying organic carbon to the soil.

Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in the Urban Soils of Santiago de Compostela (Northwestern Spain)

With the objective of increasing information inorganic pollutants in urban soils in Spain, we studied the presence of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, and As in 55 soils in the city of Santiago de Compostela (northwestern Spain). The soils were developed over diverse parent materials (granites, gneiss, schists, and amphibolites) and present different land uses, urban grasslands, urban forests, urban allotment gardens, and peri-urban agricultural soils. Total trace element concentrations, analyzed by XRF of ground samples, were correlated to physicochemical properties of the soils, and the influence of land use, lithology, and location on the degree of pollution was explored. In most soils, trace element concentrations followed the sequence Zn (55–484 mg kg−1) > Pb (20–566 mg kg−1) > Cr (17–277 mg kg−1) > Cu (17–188 mg kg−1) > As (13–205 mg kg−1) > Ni (11–91 mg kg−1). The concentrations were overall higher than regional backgrounds, but not high enough to class the soils as contaminated according to the Spanish regulation. Accordingly, the geoaccumulation index values indicate that most soils present low to moderate pollution levels. Among the elements studied, Cu, Pb, and Zn were correlated between them, with their highest concentrations happening in soils of the green areas in the city center; Cr and Ni concentrations were related to lithology of the parent material, with the highest concentrations in soils developed over amphibolite; finally, As concentrations are higher in two precise points without a clear connection to a known source of pollution.

Where Do I Allocate My Urban Allotment Gardens? Development of a Site Selection Tool for Three Cities in Benin

In the context of rapid urbanization, poorer residents in cities across low- and middle-income countries increasingly experience food and nutrition deficiencies. The United Nations has highlighted urban agriculture (UA) as a viable solution to food insecurity, by empowering the urban poor to produce their own fresh foods and make some profit from surplus production. Despite its potential role in reducing poverty and food insecurity, there appears to be little political will to support urban agriculture. This is seen in unclear political mandates that are sustained by information gaps on selection criteria for UA sites. The research reported here addresses this issue in the form of a decision-making support tool that assesses the suitability of cadastral units and informal plots for allotment gardens in urban and peri-urban areas. The tool was developed and tested for three rapidly expanding cities in Benin, a low-income country in West Africa, based on an ordered logit model that relates a set of 300 expert assessments on site suitability to georeferenced information on biophysical and socio-economic characteristics. Soil, land use, groundwater depth, vicinity to market and women’s safety were significant factors in the assessment. Scaled up across all cadastral units and informal sites, the tool generated detailed baseline maps on site suitability and availability of areas. Its capacity to support policymakers in selecting appropriate sites comes to the fore by reporting changes in site suitability under scenarios of improved soil fertility and enhanced safety for women.

Biomonitoring of the Urban Environment of Kielce and Olsztyn (Poland) Based on Studies of Total and Bioavailable Lead Content in Soils and Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.)

Kielce and Olsztyn are two different urban ecosystems. They differ from each other in terms of geological and climatic conditions, as well as spatial development and industrial past. The aim of this article is to assess and compare the degree of lead contamination of the natural environment in both cities based on the conducted tests of soils, as well as a common dandelion’s roots and leaves. For this study’s purpose, 60 samples of soils and common dandelion’s roots and leaves were collected in each city, according to four land-use types, namely industrial areas, urban green areas, urban allotment gardens, and urban forests. Basic physico-chemical properties and concentrations of lead, i.e., total content and bioavailable content were determined in the soils, using speciation analysis. Lead concentrations in the roots and leaves of common dandelion were, in turn, determined using the ICP-OES method. By using kriging models, spots with excessive lead concentrations differing from the geochemical background were identified in each city. The number of spots was comparable for both cities; however, the values for this metal differed significantly. No relationship has been found between land-use types and concentrations of lead in soils and common dandelions. The results of the study, as well as statistical and spatial analyses show that this species may be recommended as an indicator for biomonitoring of urban environments.

Contribution of chemical inputs on the trace elements concentrations of surface soils in urban allotment gardens

Urban soil contamination by heavy metals is one of the foremost challenges for urban soil quality, especially in the urban agriculture context. Urban gardening is a common practice in many industrialized and developing countries. How sources of soil contamination relate to inputs and influence the heavy metal content in soils, however, is not established yet. This study aims to assess the potential of pesticide applications (such as Bordeaux mixture) on soil quality. A set of 104 allotment gardens was selected in three cities in France, and topsoil was sampled and analyzed. The four most abundant metals in urban vegetable garden topsoils were Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr. The past and/or present industrial and urban activities are not the only cause of the metal contamination in urban vegetable garden soils. Gardens, where pesticides such as the Bordeaux mixture are being used showed significantly higher total Cu values in soils (78 mg kg−1 compared with 49 mg kg−1 for untreated gardens). Even though the risk of metal contamination through vegetable consumption is usually considered low, we clearly identified indicators of anthropogenic Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn pollution due to pesticides inputs. This link was particularly strong between the use of Bordeaux mixture and increases Cu levels.

Simplified performance assessment methodology for addressing soil quality of nature-based solutions

PurposeIn urban areas, soil functions are deeply impacted by all human activities, e.g., water infiltration, carbon storage, and chemical substances degradation potential. In this context, nature-based solutions (NBS) are assumed to deliver multiple environmental benefits for soil quality improvement. The H2020 Nature4Cities project (N4C) offers the framework to develop physical, chemical, and microbiological indicators to the performance assessment for addressing NBS soil quality (performance assessment of soil quality) to be included in a tool-box designed for architects or municipalities.Materials and methodsA simplified performance assessment methodology was developed for addressing NBS soil quality. It is based on the comparison of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics to soil reference baseline. In this setting, we present here the results obtained from case studies selected in three European cities (Nantes (F), Nancy (F), Bustehrad (CR)) to test the methodology. The case studies correspond to three different NBSs: former market turned into gardening areas (FMG), green roofs (GR), and urban allotment gardens (UAG). The performance assessment was based on two criteria: (1) soil fertility and (2) soil contamination.Results and discussionThe basic soil properties (e.g., pH, bulk density) and soil fertility (e.g., soil organic matter (SOM)) for the two open soil NBS (FMG and UAGs) are equivalent to cultivated soils. Those of GR are highly controlled by the type of natural materials used in the substrate. Concerning contamination, the soil quality of FMG was shown to be significantly impacted by former agricultural practices (pesticide residues, trace metals (TE)). Measured molecular biomass of FMG was compared with predictive molecular biomass (determined according to the soil physicochemical properties). Data showed that 12 of the 14 measured plots are classified as altered or very altered soils with regard to this parameter. TE in UAGs soils exhibit various concentrations, depending on former land use, cultural practices, and geological contexts.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the study showed that soil fertility is a rather interesting tool in the evaluation of urban soil quality. Nevertheless, basic soil properties seem to be influenced by the effects of trace element and pesticide contamination. The presence of NBSs seems to have a favorable impact (e.g., filtration of pollutants). Inappropriate management of urban soils can lead to a decrease in soil quality and thus influence the current major issues (e.g., carbon sequestration, contamination of urban spaces by organic, and inorganic pollutants).

Composition and chemical properties of the soils of the city of Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain

AbstractUrban soils are still insufficiently studied despite the relevance of their functions in the urban environment. The city of Santiago de Compostela (northwestern Spain) offers interesting opportunities for the study of urban soils because of its geological diversity and the variety of land use and vegetation. With the objective of increasing information about urban soils in Spain, we studied samples from 56 urban soils (0–20 cm) in this city, developed over different parent materials (granites, gneiss, schists, and amphibolites) and under several land uses (lawn areas, forested areas, urban allotment gardens, peri‐urban agricultural soils, and a green roof). The main physicochemical properties of the soils were analyzed, including bulk density, texture, pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, available P, and compounds of Fe and Al. The soils are coarse textured (dominant texture is sandy loam) and acidic (pH in water from 4.7 to 6.9), with moderate to high organic matter contents (13–137 g organic C kg−1). Cation exchange capacity ranges from 9 to 48 cmolc kg−1, with Ca as the most abundant exchangeable cation in most soils. Overall, the soils do not show several of the common features of other urban soils, such as alkalinity, high bulk density, or large amounts of artifacts, and their composition is very similar to their natural counterparts in the region. The conservation of these soils with a low degree of artificialization is essential because they can provide a wide range of ecosystem services.

Engaging with urban green spaces – A comparison of urban and rural allotment gardens in Southwestern Germany

Connecting society to the ecosystem is crucial for the resilience of social-ecological systems. On the local scale, some citizens actively engage with the ecosystem in urban green spaces such as gardens. Therefore, the study investigates allotment gardens in two regions in industrialized SW-Germany through a mixed method approach consisting of questionnaires and qualitative interviews. The comparison of the regions adds to our understanding of the gardening community in industrialized countries and provides information to city planners and practitioners concerning motivations and knowledge of people interacting with the ecosystem. It shows that recreation is an important motivation for gardening in both regions, but food production is less important in urban allotment gardens. The soil knowledge relies on experiences in the respective gardens and the variety of soil conservation measures shows that gardeners care for the soil in their allotment. New management practices, such as raised beds, are present. Policy makers, city planners and interest groups should consider the present research to devise programs that lead to an engagement with the ecosystem in urban green spaces.

Polish Urban Allotment Gardens as ‘Slow City’ Enclaves

In this article, urban allotment gardens (UAGs) are discussed as one of the alternative urban development frameworks - Slow City. The UAG concept as well as the Slow City agenda aims to protect and enhance strong community relationships, decision making, civil engagement, group learning, and leisure practices for people of all ages in close proximity to green spaces. The authors argue that the statutory aims, organizational culture, and governance rules of UAGs are largely coherent with the formal Slow City agenda. The authors analyze the threats to sustainable cities and the alternative urban development agendas in the context of Polish allotment gardens. With increasing problems of soil pollution, abandoned gardens, informal housing, and limitation of access to the green areas of the UAGs for other inhabitants, the pressure to reduce the number of UAGs is reinforced.

Urban Allotment Gardens for the Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Trace Element Pollution.

This study evaluates the results of the characterization of air pollution in urban green areas using edible plants. To this purpose, we examined the effect of location (i.e., three different levels of pollution), substrate (peat moss and vermiculite), and plant species (oilseed rape [ L.] and kale [ L.]) on the accumulation of trace elements on leaves. A total of 36 samples of unwashed leaves were digested with HNO-HO and analyzed for 27 elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Considering the location, plants exposed next to the road showed higher contents of traffic-related elements, and additionally, outdoors samples were enriched in marine aerosol ions. Cadmium and Pb concentrations did not exceed the European legal maximum levels for vegetables, so their consumption would be safe for human health. Results support the hypothesis that edible plants such as kale and rapeseed could be used as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution.

Management initiatives in support of the soil quality of urban allotment gardens: Examples from Nantes (France)

AbstractUrban allotment gardens (UAGs) are important for the provision of foodstuffs, social cohesion, residents' well‐being, and prevention of the formation of local heat islands during summer. The soils of these gardens however may be adversely affected by pollution threats and thus create health risks. In such cases, appropriate management becomes necessary. For several gardens exhibiting soil contamination (e.g., Pb at 100–400 mg kg−1) in the city of Nantes, local actors collaborated, including scientists, the municipality's Parks and Open Space Department, elected officials, sanitary administration, and each site's gardeners' association. The soil characterization step was performed along with a sanitary risk evaluation and discussion of management options, based on both the pollution characteristics and local context. The most frequent option consisted of replacing the polluted soils with clean soils. Managing the excavated polluted soils on‐site (e.g., for ornamental purposes) limited the economic and environmental impacts associated with this solution. Alternative solutions, including a combined system of nonaccumulative cropping vegetables at the time of phytoextraction, were also employed to maintain gardening uses. In some cases, land use (gardening) was changed into, for example, an orchard, open space, or ornamental space. A combination of solutions was introduced in several gardens. The various options available for managing polluted soils, as implemented in Nantes' UAGs and based mainly on nature‐based solution, can be applied more generally in order to improve soil quality. In addition to enhancing the quality of both residents' lives and biodiversity, several solutions allow preserving or even restoring soil functions.

Perceived changes in well-being and happiness with gardening in urban organic allotments in Portugal

ABSTRACTUrban allotment gardens (AG) in Portugal have increased in recent years, as in many other European countries and worldwide. The contribution of these gardens to the happiness and well-being of urban populations has been recognized, but evaluations of their benefits are still very scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate this contribution, based on the urban organic AG of the Devesa Park in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The sample included 65 gardeners who completed the self-administered questionnaires of Bem-Estar Pessoal (personal well-being scale), Felicidade Subjetiva (subjective happiness scale) and sociodemographic characteristics. Respondents were mainly adults under 65 years, married and academically well qualified and about half of them had a professional activity, with nearly one third being retired. They considered themselves happy with their life (Personal Well-being Index = 74.5%) and revealed an optimistic and positive attitude towards life, regardless of economic or social difficulties. The increased frequency of visits for gardening was positively related to a greater perception of subjective happiness. The gardeners who visited the AG more frequently considered themselves happier from a self-perspective and in comparison with peers. It can be suggested that urban organic AG represent a means for enhancing citizen well-being, contributing positively to their feelings of happiness and life satisfaction, changing behaviours and developing personal capacities. Beyond economic measures, urban AG can be recommended to capture the well-being of societies.

Use of Green Spaces for Liveable and Sustainable Cities; Urban Allotment Gardens

Kentsel alanların sürdürülebilir gelişmesine katkıda bulunan kentin yeşil alanları kentsel yaşam kalitesiniarttırmada önem taşımaktadır. Hayatı fiziksel ve psikolojik olarak daha yaşanabilir kılmak ve ihtiyaçlara dahauygun ortamlar oluşturmak için, kullanıcıların fiziksel, fizyolojik, psikolojik ve sosyal yapısından kaynaklananihtiyaçlarını önceden kestirmek ve açık mekanlardan oluşan çevreyi bu ihtiyaçlara göre şekillendirmek gereklidir.Günümüz kentleri hızlı nüfus artışı, çarpık kentleşme, yoğun yapılaşma ile beton yığını durumuna gelmiştir.Hava, su, gürültü, toprak kirliği, tarım arazilerinin amaç dışı kullanımı gibi çevre sorunları da kentlerdeki yaşamkalitesini olumsuz etkilemektedir. Kent yakınındaki verimli arazilere sanayi ve yerleşim alanları kurulmaktadır.Gecekondu ve çöküntü alanları kent imajını değiştirmektedir. Kentlerimizin çeşitli nedenlerle aşırı yoğunlaşması,arsa rantlarını artırarak, yeşil alan gibi kamusal alanlara ayrılması gereken bölgeleri sınırlamaktadır. Çalışmanınana materyali, kentsel tasarım çalışmalarında alternatif yeşil alan kaynakları olarak değerlendirilebilen, bir takımtopluluk bahçeleri olan kentsel küçük bahçelerdir. Bu bahçelerin birçok örneği geçmişten günümüze yurtdışındagörülebilmektedir. Türkiye’de ise bu bahçeler; küçük bahçeler, halk (topluluk) bahçeleri, kent bahçeleri, hobibahçeleri ve kişiye tahsisli kent bahçeleri olarak bilinmektedir. Çalışma metodu olarak, yurtiçi ve yurtdışından ilgililiteratür taraması yapılmış ve gerekli etüt, analiz ve sentez yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Sonuçta büyük kentlerimizyeşil alan ve rekreaktif alanlardan yoksun kalmaktadır. Çalışmada; Kentsel tasarım çalışmalarında, yurt dışındatarih boyunca var olan günümüzde de örnekleri olan toplum bahçelerinin bir türü olan kişiye tahsisli kentbahçelerinin alternatif yeşil alan kullanımı olarak değerlendirilebileceği düşünülerek yaşanabilir ve sürdürülebilirkent tasarımlarında kişiye tahsisli kent bahçelerinin rolü ve önemi vurgulanmaya çalışılmıştır.