Place-Making for Connections, not Consumption: A handbook for creating real public spaces in Järfälla

By Alva Andersson, Maedot Yared Fenta & Joelle Rahi 

As mentioned in the municipality of Järfälla’s comprehensive plan, fostering social inclusion is an overall challenge in Järfälla. Furthermore, exclusion and segregation is reinforced by increased income gaps, which the municipality of Järfälla strives to reduce by creating inclusive communities. For creating a more inclusive Järfälla, the comprehensive plan highlights equal access to amenities, public services and green spaces. Additionally, the comprehensive plan stresses the importance of public engagement and inclusion of residents in decision-making processes to ensure a more equitable and inclusive Järfälla in 2050. The municipality of Järfälla have made significant strides in addressing social related challenges and a strong commitment to socially sustainable development, as well as community well-being. Promising efforts to overcome many social related issues in order to foster a sense of belonging and community feel in Järfälla have been made. However, we believe that there is always room for new suggestions, why we have developed this handbook can provide the tools and guidance needed to further develop this progress. 

Handbooks work as a valuable tool for open communication and training. They create a shared understanding between management and employees of how things work, which gives a sense of clarity and transparency. Also, handbooks can mean saving time and resources as there is a decreased need of spending time on repetitive decisions or navigating tricky situations without guidelines. Developing a handbook focused on non-consumerist placemaking could be seen offering a way of how to create public spaces that strengthen community connections rather than commercial interests. Taking this approach prioritizes social interaction and community building, thus leading to a more vibrant and inclusive public realm for more residents, and supporting the municipality in fostering social inclusion. 

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