Stakeholders’ experiences with co-creating public open spaces for activity in local communities.

Background: To solve complex public health challenges, such as inequalities in physical activity among youth, innovative solutions are needed. Co-creation of public open space (POS) in local communities is suggested as an innovative way to promote physical activity among residents. However, to understand the benefits and challenges of co-creation processes, more knowledge about stakeholders’ experiences of being involved in such processes is essential.
Purpose: To gain in-depth knowledge of stakeholders’ experiences of a co-creation process of POS in municipalities.
Method: Semi-structured group interviews, with a total of 54 informants (youth, NGO for self-organized physical activity, landscape architects and municipal planers) participating in co-creation of POS in six municipalities in Norway (2020-2022) were carried out. The data was analyzed by systematic text condensation.
Results: Three themes were developed during the analysis, illustrating trade-offs that emerged during the co-creation processes in the municipalities: 1) iteration versus solution; 2) innovation versus convention; and 3) flexibility versus planning. All three themes reflect both advantages and disadvantages of co-creating POS. Different opinions about these trade-off points could be attributed to how some stakeholders were more familiar with conventional planning processes, while others pushed for more iteration, innovation, and flexibility. It could also be attributed to personal preferences, previous experiences, knowledge of planning processes, as well as how involved the stakeholders were in the process.
Conclusion: All stakeholders who participated in the co-creation of the POS experienced clear trade-offs that they did not always share similar opinions about. Being aware of trade-offs present in co-creation processes is important both for the outcome and output of the project.
Practical implications: To raise awareness about potential trade-offs in co-creation processes, clear communication and clarification of project goals, boundaries, needs, as well as expectations of the involved stakeholders, are essential.
Funding: Norwegian Research Council.