Young people: being apart, together in an urban park
Irina van Aalst, Jelle Brands
Abstract
Against the background of studies that report on urban park spaces as supporting inclusive city life and promoting tolerance and belonging, the present study investigated the spatial dimensions of gathering and othering in Wilhelminapark, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Using observational research and on-site group interviews, we found a diversity of users performing a diversity of activities. The presence of known or unknown visitors was given as an important reason to visit Wilhelminapark, although our results show that there is little interaction between different groups of users. The latter aligns with a critical strand of literature that suggests that co-presence does not necessarily result in meaningful contact between the users of public spaces. Young people tend to socialize or relax with their own group, which makes park visits mostly an in-group activity. At the same time, being together with other visitors is an important element in the attractiveness of this park space.