The Viva o Verde SP initiative, a partnership between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Municipal Secretariat for the Green and the Environment (SVMA) of the City of São Paulo, has officially launched assessment activities for over one hundred parks across the city.
The initiative involves implementing the City-Wide Public Space Assessment, a tool developed by UN-Habitat's Global Public Space Programme. From October to December, researchers will visit more than one hundred urban, linear, waterfront, and natural parks to conduct detailed structural assessments of each location.
In addition, interviews with visitors at the 70 parks managed by SVMA are already underway. Since October 16, field agents have been working to understand how these green spaces are used and their significance in the daily lives of local residents.
Anyone over the age of 18 can take part in the survey. Throughout the assessment period, each park will be visited during three different shifts between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. These visits will take place every day of the week, including holidays. Researchers aim for at least 10 interviews per shift in each park, totaling approximately 5,000 completed interviews by the end of the study. Check this link for the schedules and dates of the interviews in each park and region.
The coordinator of Viva o Verde SP, Jordi Sánchez-Cuenca, explains that the goal is to develop an assessment that incorporates diverse perspectives—from detailed observations of technical aspects to the opinions of park visitors. “It is a multidimensional evaluation that will address issues of spatial distribution, governance, accessibility, safety, inclusion, comfort and health, as well as vegetation and water bodies, using more than 60 indicators. We are conducting quantitative research, meaning we will collect hard data to generate maps and charts, which will then be analyzed to produce a report and recommendations for the city's park system,” he explains.
Implementing the City-Wide Public Space Assessment is one of the project's phases, which, according to the Municipal Secretary for the Green and the Environment, Rodrigo Ravena, is set to drive a true transformation of São Paulo into a greener capital. “This partnership will leave a legacy for the city and marks a very timely moment, as São Paulo’s Secretariat for the Green and the Environment has just celebrated its 30th anniversary. The reality of the city's parks has changed significantly over these three decades, and this three-year project with UN-Habitat will foster valuable exchanges of experience, providing the tools needed to ensure we develop strategies for the continuous improvement of our green areas,” he said.
About Viva o Verde SP
The Viva o Verde SP initiative is a partnership between the City of São Paulo and UN-Habitat that aims to foster equality in the spatial distribution and accessibility of public green areas across the city. Signed in conjunction with the Municipal Secretariat for the Green and the Environment (SVMA), the agreement entails a comprehensive assessment of over one hundred urban parks, targeted analyses of ten selected facilities, and support in other areas, such as drafting management plans and promoting financial innovations to maintain green public spaces.
Viva o Verde SP brings together a UN-Habitat team working alongside SVMA, supported by an advisory reference group of representatives from civil society, academia, and independent experts. Beyond training public servants and community members to contribute, monitor, and replicate the organization's methodologies, the project's activities encompass various levels of park evaluations. These will be carried out by multidisciplinary teams collecting primary and secondary data using UN-Habitat's global public space assessment tools.
The project adopts an intersectional approach, guided by gender equality and the promotion of diversity. It also aims to strengthen climate action by prioritizing local biodiversity and biomes, thereby improving both the urban environment and public health.
Follow updates on the Viva o Verde SP project through the social media channels of UN-Habitat, the Secretariat for the Green and the Environment, and the Secretariat of International Relations.
This article was written by ArchDaily Team. The translation is powered by AI.
