People tend to avoid neglected spaces overgrown with weeds and littered with rubbish. Abandoned places hidden from view can create conditions that encourage crime. Cleaning up these areas, adding greenery and turning them into spaces where residents can relax improves visibility across the area, attracts more people and helps create a safer environment.
This approach was tested in Philadelphia, USA. A study published in 2018 in PNAS, the journal of the US National Academy of Sciences, covered 541 vacant lots. Some were cleared of rubbish, planted with grass and trees, fitted with low fences and regularly maintained. Others received routine cleaning only, while lots in the control group were left unchanged.
The results showed that in neighbourhoods where residents had incomes below the poverty line, overall crime around the improved lots fell by 13.3% compared with areas where lots were left unchanged.
The study’s social outcomes are also noteworthy. Among residents living near the greened lots, the use of outdoor spaces for relaxation and socialising increased by 75.7% compared with the control group. Concerns about safety when going outside fell by 57.8%.
These figures show how simple improvements to neglected spaces can affect everyday life. Once restored, these areas attract more residents, provide new places for neighbours to meet and strengthen natural surveillance, as more people are present to observe what happens around them.
This approach could be adapted to Uzbekistan and initially tested through a pilot project in two or three mahallas (local neighbourhood communities) within one city.
First, local government officials, cadastral specialists and urban planners should establish the selected site’s legal status, its designated use under the city’s master plan and the location of underground utilities, including pipes and cables. Residents’ views should also inform site selection. Spaces near schools, public transport stops, mahalla centres or busy pedestrian routes would be particularly convenient for everyday use.
The work should comply with Uzbekistan’s current urban planning standards and regulations, including the requirements of Standard 2.07.01-23. Trees must be planted at the prescribed distances from buildings, footpaths and underground utilities.
Given Uzbekistan’s hot, dry climate, it would be more appropriate to plant locally adapted shade trees and low-water-use plants rather than extensive lawns that require large amounts of water. Water-efficient irrigation methods, including drip irrigation, should also be used.
The space should be attractive and accessible to everyone. Level, barrier-free paths, comfortable benches and adequate lighting would make it easier for older people, families with young children and people with disabilities to use the area. Shrubs and other plants should not obstruct views or create concealed spots, particularly in the evening.
Initial improvements alone are not enough. Responsible organisations and funding sources should be identified in advance to ensure regular cleaning, watering and plant care, and to keep benches and lighting in good working order. Contracts should clearly specify the work required, completion schedules and each party’s responsibilities.
To assess the pilot project’s effectiveness, baseline data should be collected before work begins, followed by a further assessment one year later. Indicators could include the number of people using the space, reports of offences, social activity in the area and how safe residents feel. Comparing the results with similar areas that have not been improved would help establish the project’s actual impact more clearly.
This approach does not require a costly infrastructure project. The key is to transform a neglected site into a public space that people use, that receives regular care and where everyday activity provides natural surveillance.
Creating accessible, well-maintained and safe public spaces also contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 11 — “Sustainable Cities and Communities”.
Alisher Azizov
Chief Specialist, NGO “Center for Sustainable Development”