The Role of Green Spaces in the Sustainability Discourse : Lessons from the City of Kumasi

Green spaces in urban areas are considered critical infrastructure that provides economic, social, and environmental benefits for cities. This study seeks to clarify the roles of green spaces in the sustainable city discourse by first and foremost considering green spaces from a categorical perspective and then situating their tripartite roles within the tripartite dimensions of sustainability.Using semi-structured interviews, face-to-face interviews, and observations, data was collected from 411 respondents which include users of green space, residents living near green space, and green space managers.Findings indicate that green spaces provide tripartite benefits that help in the realization of sustainable cities, which confirmed the assumption of the theory of biophilia. For example, Rattray Park generates revenue, increases land values in the neighborhood within which it is located, and pays taxes to the city. The Royal Parade Ground served as an informal classroom where students can hold academic discussions and interact. The Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary serves as a conservation site and provides habitats for various species of flora and fauna. The KNUST Botanical Garden provides an open space where people can have a conversation and interact. The Ahodwo Roundabout to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Clinic Road Corridor provides space for people to carry out economic activities and interact and form new social connections. The results also showed that although green spaces provide tripartite benefits that contribute to sustainable city development, green spaces also negatively impact the sustainability of the city in some ways. For example, even though Rattray Park increases land values, it also makes its neighborhood only exclusive to a select few within the society, and this could lead to social exclusion and gentrification. The study found that some arguments made by the school of thought that are of the view that green spaces negatively impact the sustainability of cities are valid. However, most of their arguments are not valid when green spaces are considered from a categorical perspective. For example, woodlands/wetlands do not need to be mowed thus the argument that more green spaces in cities increase the carbon footprint of cities is not valid. The study concludes that all green spaces are not the same, therefore, researchers must first categorize green spaces before even engaging in discourse about their role in the tripartite dimension of sustainability. The study further concludes that each category of green space contributes significantly and uniquely to the sustainability of the Kumasi metropolis