Urban open spaces as commons: The case of the self-governed Navarinou park


Published: Sep 24, 2020
Keywords:
commons Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) Navarinou Park
Paschalis A. Arvanitidis
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3799-4101
George Papagiannitsis
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2683-5773
Abstract

Creating commons in vacant, open, urban spaces constitutes an innovative solution for the sustainable management of these places and the mitigation of the environmental, economic and social burdens that urban dwellers face. The paper uses the self-governed Navarinou park as a case study, in order to discuss the issue, evaluate its experience and propose possible policies for successful such actions. In particular, it employs the SES methodological framework of the Ostromian approach to outline the Park as a commons institution and to explore its variables. It concludes that the Park constitutes a functional and credible institution, and as such an advisable intervention would be the recognition of collective rights and practices alongside the development of a framework that would allow such endeavors to thrive.

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Author Biographies
Paschalis A. Arvanitidis, University of Thessaly
Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Οικονομικών Επιστημών, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας
George Papagiannitsis, University of Thessaly
Υποψήφιος Διδάκτωρ, Τμήμα Οικονομικών Επιστημών, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας
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