United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

The name of the institution being nominated is (full name):
City of Vienna, Chief Executive Office – Executive Office for Urban Planning, Development and Construction, Co-ordination Office for Planning and Construction Geared to the Requirements of Daily Life and the Specific Needs of Women
Together with:
City of Vienna, Municipal Department 42 for Parks and Gardens

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
The purpose of this project is to give girls a better place in public spaces. As girls' specific interests concerning games, sports and other leisure-time activities are incorporated into the design of public parks, they are supported in developing a sense of ownership for public and social spaces. Such consideration also makes for a more balanced distribution of male and female children and young adults in public parks. Another, major aim of the project is to improve the sense of safety in public spaces by introducing appropriate design elements. Proper lighting, clear and open common areas which provide good overview are to encourage those who always believed parks to be unattractive or uncanny to actually make them part of their leisure time activities. The office of the Executive City Councillor for Women’s Issues contributed the Strategic Project “Gender-sensitive playgrounds for children and young people, sports grounds and parks in Vienna’s municipal districts” to the Strategy Plan for Vienna. The project aims at establishing and renewing public facilities of suitable size with attention paid to gender-sensitive planning. The Co-ordination Office for Planning and Construction Geared to the Requirements of Daily Life and the Specific Needs of Women was charged with handling the project in collaboration with the competent Municipal Departments. Based on several sociological and planning studies concrete goals were drawn up for the redesign of the – up to now six – pilot parks: In 1999, Einsiedlerplatz and St.-Johann-Park in Vienna’s 5th municipal district were redesigned following a competition in whose context three landscape planning studios headed by women were invited to submit plans for what was called “gender-sensitive park design“ for each of the two projects. The competition was organised and assisted by the Co-ordination Office in close co-operation with the Municipal Department 42 for Parks and Gardens and the Municipal District Office. The restructuring measures have been completed in 2001 and have led to increased perception of girls’ activities in both of the parks. As of 2001, the Co-ordination Office initiated another approach of gender sensitive planning: girls were directly involved in planning, articulated their needs and wishes and, with professional assistance, were able to distil their concerns into concrete proposals for planning. This especially correlates with the two focuses “Participation” and “Gender Mainstreaming” of the Municipal Department 42 for Parks and Gardens that have been established within the last years. The participation processes in altogether four public parks – Odeongasse and Danube Canal in Vienna`s 2nd District (implementation measures completed in 2004/2005), Draschepark ) in Vienna`s fourth District (implementation measures completed in 2004 and Mortarapark in Vienna`s 20th District (implementation measures completed in 2006) – have largely confirmed the results of the above-mentioned studies regarding gender-sensitive park design. As a main output of the recent redesigned pilot parks, in 2005, the Co-ordination Office and the Municipal Department 42 for Parks and Gardens have published recommendations for the gender-sensitive designing of public parks as a base for future park planning projects in Vienna.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
1996 / 1997: Publishing of the study “Lost chances? Getting girls to move into public space” by Edit Schlaffer and Cheryl Benard (developed on behalf of the Women’s Office of the City of Vienna) 1999: Competition Einsiedlerplatz and St.-Johann-Park (Vienna’s 5th municipal district) with main focus on gender sensitive park design, organised by the Co-ordination Office in co-operation with the Municipal Department 42 for Parks and Gardens and the Municipal District Office 1999 / 2000: Evaluation of both Einsiedlerplatz and St.-Johann-Park before and after the redesign 2000: Implementation of the Strategic Project “Gender-sensitive playgrounds for children and young people, sports grounds and parks in Vienna’s municipal districts” into the Strategy Plan for Vienna 2000: Design and utilisation analyses of 14 public parks in Vienna 2001: Establishment of working groups within the competent Municipal Departments to determine the future proceeding and discuss standard guidelines of gender sensitive park design 2000 / 2006:Planning parks together with girls – gender sensitive participation processes for planning public parks -Danube Canal / Robertstiege (Standler Gröösinger 2000, implementation measures finished in 2004) -Odeongasse (Lacina / Ehmayer / Peutl / Soroldoni 2000, implementation measures finished in 2005 ) -Alois-Drasche-Park (PlanSinn 2003, implementation measures finished in 2004) -Mortarapark (Backbone, Kinderfreunde, 2005, implementation measures finished 2006) 2005: Establishment of recommendations for the gender-sensitive designing of public parks as a base for future park planning projects in Vienna

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
In their study "Verspielte Chancen? – Mädchen in den öffentlichen Raum!" (“Lost chances? Getting girls to move into public space”) developed on behalf of the Women’s Office of the City of Vienna in 1996/97, the sociologists Edit Schlaffer and Cheryl Benard stated that girls appropriate space with markedly less confidence than boys. Starting at age 10 to 13, girls tend to withdraw almost entirely from public parks and playgrounds. The ratio of girls to boys who visit parks at that age is about 1:3. This has noticeable effects on their self-confidence and body awareness. As a result of the existing dearth of public open spaces in condensed neighbourhoods of Vienna, the existing spaces are claimed by the more assertive groups. At the same time, the current designs and equipment of playgrounds tend to favour male children and teenagers. So far, the fact that girls present different interests regarding play, sports and pastimes and hence demand other things from playground design has been given short shrift by planners. Basically, the study assumes that the spatial and design concepts behind public parks per se predefine the possibilities of use as well as the future user groups. Gender-sensitive park design therefore means organising and equipping open spaces in a way that makes sure that girls will be given the same opportunities and development possibilities as boys.

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
It is the objective of the Co-ordination Office for Planning and Construction Geared to the Requirements of Daily Life and the Specific Needs of Women to strengthen the presence of girls in public space, to support their appropriation of space and to achieve a balanced male/female ratio among park users. The gender-sensitive design of public parks is a novel approach on a European scale; so far, comparable assistance and activity projects only covered girls’ playgrounds that were not publicly accessible. The main priorities are: ð Supporting girls in space appropriation The purpose of the project was to increase the presence of girls in public outdoor spaces and to expand their scope of action. Transferable design solutions were sought which would contribute to a more balanced distribution of girls and boys in public parks. ð Increasing the sense of safety through use of design elements Introducing specific design elements was to increase visitors' sense of safety and thus to motivate more timid groups (e.g. elderly people) to frequent public parks. ð Focussing on girls' interests during decision-making stages of planning Emphasis was placed on girls' behaviour in public spaces and on addressing the issue of female adolescents' withdrawal from public spaces. The aim was to develop counter-strategies in co-operation with interested individuals and those directly affected.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
This project is a “Strategic Project” of the Strategy Plan 2000 for Vienna, which defined the most important aims of Vienna´s planning policy. This project has been implemented into the Strategy Plan by the office of the Executive City Councillor for Women’s Issues. During a pilot phase 6 different parks were designed or redesigned under the aspect of gender sensibility. In cooperation with all municipal departments concerned the experiences of these projects were transferred into “recommendations for the gender-sensitive designing of public parks“ which are now used as basic guidelines for all new park designs in Vienna. It was an important principle of implementation, that no additional costs should be generated by taking the ideas of gender sensitive planning into consideration. Cooperation with all municipal departments concerned from the very beginning of the process was realized by establishing a working group, who developed the process. This way of communication enforced the identification of the experts involved with this project. To make the “recommendations for the gender-sensitive designing of public parks” known a folder was published, illustrated with examples of recently redesigned parks.

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
The new design of parks offers girls a wider scope of action. Girl-specific equipment and clear arrangement of space motivates them to spend more time in the park. The supply of toys and games was adapted to girls' special interests concerning games, sports and other leisure time activities. Football and street-ball cages primarily frequented by boys and male adolescents were replaced by neutral activity fields to give girls a better chance to become acquainted with parks as their space. Attractive design of the edges of games and activity fields encourages girls to conquer their space step by step. Transparency of design, all-over lighting and visibility of main avenues help to meet the demand for more safety. The implementing authorities are convinced that bright, clear design of parks raises visitors' sense of safety. The new design principles will also be used to plan or redesign existing parks in other districts. The co-ordinating "Head Office for Planning and Housing Construction Methods that take account of women and their everyday needs" has assumed responsibility for assessing park design projects with regard to consideration of girls' interests. The low attendance of female adolescents in public parks was brought to the attention of responsible planners; public relations activities and the exhibition of ideas and results will now help make the public at large aware of this issue. Since the project first began in early 1999, altogether six public parks in condensed neighbourhoods of Vienna have been redesigned given special attention to the aspects of gender sensitive park design. Each project has been evaluated and interviews with concerned male and female park visitors of all ages have been carried out. In three cases, participation processes for girls, and in one case a participation process for children taking the girls` wishes under special consideration, took place.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
Design measures are to increase physical space for girls and to create a more balanced distribution of girls and boys in both parks. Creating small-structured common areas in the limited space available gives more groups of people a chance to use the park for play without obstructing communication between them. Establishing several common areas of similar or equal value means that more reserved groups such as girls or the elderly are also given a chance to find their own space to play in or linger and relax. Play areas for younger and older children are placed next to each other so girls (usually from migrant families) in charge of their younger siblings can play while watching the others play nearby. As girls' interests are given more attention and their need for appropriation of space is supported, their self-confidence is strengthened too. Ultimately, girls' and women's scope for action and their social horizon will be broadened too. The "new ball game cage" is one example of a girl-oriented design solution. The innovative structure of this ball game area consists of two to three game areas, which can be used simultaneously plus generously designed edges for smaller groups of children. A raised platform serves as a stage and separating element for the different play zones and makes it possible for children and girls in particular to watch and communicate from a safe distance. Girls tend to use such areas as a starting point from which to conquer larger play areas. Equipment of the play areas also takes into consideration girls' specific interests, such as volleyball, badminton, etc., thus enhancing their sports activities. A generous opening in the fence lowers resistance of more reserved groups to conquer this play area. This arrangement is also suitable for limited park space. At the same time, multi-functional areas are created, favouring active participation of park visitors in the design of the park, e.g. through temporary game actions or artistic installations. To make this project sustainable for long term, it is important to mention that girls need regular pedagogic care, which will enable them to take over their space with confidence and establish new social rules in their park. This is why representatives of Municipal Department 13 Education, Out-Of-School Activities for Children and Young People have participated in the working groups. In four pilot parks girls concerned participated in developing solutions so that they can identify with the final results. Experts concerned with the advancement of girls (planners, sociologists, pedagogues) were invited to take part in the initial observation phase to guarantee that behavioural patterns of girls that are not aware of themselves are recognised and considered in the planning phase. Many of the design elements are easily transferred to other parks. The recommendations for the gender-sensitive designing of public parks guarantee transferability to other park projects in Vienna. The were published by the Co-ordination Office and the Municipal Department 42 in 2005 and are now used as basic guidelines for park restructuring projects. They have been developed within the interdisciplinary working groups and they are clearly an important promoter of an area-wide application of gender sensitive planning approaches in Vienna when designing public parks and gardens.

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
The problem can not be sorted out only by changing the park design. It is very important to sensitise and involve Park supervisors (staff, employed by the city for out-of-school care of children and young adults in public parks), who can reassure girls in using the urban open space. It is important to check the atmosphere and surroundings of a park in detail in order to avoid choosing an area with difficult preconditions such as special boy´s meeting point, drug scene, etc. for the pilot projects.


Institution Name:		City of Vienna
Institution Type:		Public Organization
Contact Person:		Eva Kail
Title:		Head of Co-ordination Office
Telephone/ Fax:		+43-1-4000-82661
Institution's / Project's Website:		+43-1-4000-99-82661
E-mail:		fr@mbd.magwien.gv.at
Address:		Vienna City Hall
Postal Code:		1082
City:		Vienna
State/Province:
Country:		Austria

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information