ASSESSMENT OF PARKS AND GARDENS MANAGEMENT IN LAGOS-ISLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The role of parks/gardens in cities has become much greater as the scope and impact increasingly influences quality of life, economic development, health, and many other aspects of urban life. Lagos-Island Local Government Area has been chosen as a focus of study as it exemplifies the challenge of parks/gardens management. This study seeks to examine the accessibility of the patrons of parks and gardens in order to improve the management strategies. The data for this study were collected with 270 questionnaires distributed to the respondents and analyzed in order to have insight information on Assessment of Parks and Gardens Management Strategies. Random technique was adopted where data was extrapolated from respondents who are the patrons of those parks/gardens and the managers were also interviewed. Purposive sampling technique were used to get data from the officials of the Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK) and Local Planning Authorities involved in management parks/gardens within the study area. This study revealed that management of parks/gardens and its related problems could be controlled effectively by implementing a robust sustainable broad-based management strategy in the Lagos-Island causing low patronages, insecurity, poor maintenance, flooding, poor inter-governmental relationships and lack of citizen inclusiveness in participation and this had led to low patronage. The management strategies used by LASPARK on parks/gardens in the Lagos-Island Local Government Area are weak and not effective enough to sustain the present social, functional and perceptual attributes of the parks/gardens. Based on above outcomes, collaborative measures to revitalize the existing non-functioning parks/gardens by government was recommended for effective management strategy. In addition, this study recommended further research on post occupancy evaluation of the parks/gardens.