AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE OPEN SPACES AND OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR LANDSCAPE PLANN~NG IN AKURE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The poor quality of the Nigeria urban environment has been observed by various researchers as the resulting effect of the inadequate, misuse, and mismanagement of the urban open spaces. This has exerted a major strain on the physical outlook of the environment and a negative effect on the welfare and productivity of the residents. The research is thus set to study the open spaces in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, Nigeria. The aim isto identify and analyse the existing open spaces, and assess the implicationsof their landscape planning on the status of the city centre. It examined a number of issues which include: the residents, types, functions, ownership, accessibility and maintenance of the open spaces, private and public sector participation in their management; and the implications of the landscape status on the development of a healthy and sustainable environment. The data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were sourced through the survey of the open spaces in Akure city centre which is the study area. The research instrument used for the collection of the primary data were made up of structured questionnaires and a check list administered by the use of systematic random sampling technique on the respondents, while the secondary data were obtained from libraries and other private and government information sources. The data obtained were thereafter subjected to three major types of statistical analyses the Uni-variate, bi-variate (chi-square tests and correlation) and multi variety analyses (multiple regression analyses). They were used to establish the frequency distribution, the significant relationships between research variables and the necessary predictions paramount to the realization of the thesis goal. The research identified the availability and misuse of the open spaces in the city centre by the residents. Inadequacy of manpower for the supervisionof the management and the poor landscape quality of the open spaces which are critical to the research work were revealed. While noting the fact that findings of a study of this type may be more typical of the case than general to other cities, it is believed that in most cases, the issues investigated are more national than local. The policy recommendations havetherefore been geared to reflect these observations. The first set of recommendations are urban planning policy strategie meant to set up an adequate institutional framework at all tiers of government because of their ultimateimpact on the status of the spaces. The second level being urban design policies which are meant to be effected at the local and municipal government levels for positive changes in the status of the environment, particularly those at the overcrowded city centres. The findings and recommendations are expected to be of great value to similar investigations in other cities in the country and any other city in the developing world.