Tomasz Mikołajczyk

Abstract

Participatory budgeting represents a subject of interdisciplinary scientific research. Detailed here is work to analyse the Participatory Budgets (PBs) implemented in Łódź since 2013, and to identify infrastructure projects that exerted a direct influence on the de­velopment of public urban spaces. Since the time of the first edition of the PB in Łódź, 346,200,000 PLN has been allocated from the city budget to 1883 projects, with the amounts changing; while since the introduction of domestic legal regulations regarding PB, the pool has decreased to a minimum (Fig. 2). Funds have been allocated annually to tasks proposed by residents within the framework of local and city-wide projects. Those implemented under the participatory budget may be of an infrastructural or social nature, with the first category dominating this division, while approximately 94% of all projects concerned investment tasks.

Each edition of the PB is supplemented by educational and information activities, social diagnoses, and meetings to promote project submission. The possibility of joint decision making offered by PB may be a factor influencing residents’ attachment to their city, and thus influence a higher level of identification with the environment and a sense of co-responsibility for it.

Public spaces are considered key elements in the urban structure – a circumstance that reflects the nearby location of living, entertainment and recreational services. The properties of public space include, inter alia availability, and the serving of functions that are utilitarian, interactive or civic. Residents use public spaces every day as they move around, meet their recreational needs, or meet other people. Increased social awareness of good living conditions in the city has resulted in groups within society participating in the production and addition of new functional features in public spaces. In line with the structure of the city, it is possible to distinguish the many forms of public space presented in Table 1.

The research points to significant investment needs in public spaces across Łódź (Poland). The share of winning projects that involved spatial investments reaches almost 50% of all those that won. Projects concerned green areas, recreational areas and communications infrastructure. These types of project included projects within existing green areas, but also the designation of new pocket parks or squares. In addition, a large number of projects were implemented to improve the quality of pavements and roads, as well as to create or supplement sports and recreation areas. When account is taken of the locations of implemented projects, it is noted that most tasks were completed in the Śródmieście district – the part of the city in which the number of public urban spaces in the structure of Łódź dominates. Unfortunately, many of these are characterised by a low aesthetic level, and are monofunctional. In the suburbs of the city, projects implemented relate mainly to road infrastructure, green areas, and sports and recreation areas. However, thanks to projects undertaken, it did prove possible to improve the quality of urban space. Indeed, the nature of the selected projects shows that public spaces of high quality are important to residents. The implementation of the PB over time shows change taking place when it comes to the thinking about a modern city, along with the needs of inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Łódź carefully sought funds for larger projects, implementing them in stages. This allowed for the continuation of larger investments over several years, which can be considered an undoubted success of the participatory budget. To overcome problems related to both the quantity and quality of public spaces, long-term, consistently implemented action is necessary, with PB not then representing an ideal solution to such difficulties, above all in line with the amounts that can be allocated. However, the continuation of tasks in successive editions is to be noted increasingly, albeit with these needing to be based around prior discussion of the needs of a given community. Nonetheless, local authorities may derive some benefits from the use of PB, given that submitted projects focus on the needs of residents on given housing estates.

Keywords: participatory budgeting, urban space, spatial planning, participation, Łódź

Tomasz Mikołajczyk [tomasz.mikolajczyk@geo.uni.lodz.pl], Uniwersytet Łódzki, Instytut Zagospodarowania Środowiska i Polityki Przestrzennej

Citation

APA: Mikołajczyk, T. (2024). Budżet obywatelski a zagospodarowanie przestrzeni publicznych – przykład Łodzi. Przegląd Geograficzny, 96(2), 153-174. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.2.1
MLA: Mikołajczyk, Tomasz. "Budżet obywatelski a zagospodarowanie przestrzeni publicznych – przykład Łodzi". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 96, no. 2, 2024, pp. 153-174. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.2.1
Chicago: Mikołajczyk, Tomasz. "Budżet obywatelski a zagospodarowanie przestrzeni publicznych – przykład Łodzi". Przegląd Geograficzny 96, no. 2 (2024): 153-174. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.2.1
Harvard: Mikołajczyk, T. 2024. "Budżet obywatelski a zagospodarowanie przestrzeni publicznych – przykład Łodzi". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 96, no. 2, pp. 153-174. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.2.1