Urban Green Space Planning and Transformation of Ecotourism

Omondi Owino, FredrickDr. Fredrick Omondi Owino is a lecturer at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Univesity of Science and Technology (JOOUST). He holds a B.A (Design) and M.A (Planning) from the University of Nairobi and PhD (Planning) from JOOUST. Currently, he is a Post Doctoral Fellow and the Chairman of the Department of Spatial Planning at JOOUST.

Urban green spaces are quite important in enhancing the environment and aesthetic quality of city life. Kisumu City, the study area, has been experiencing demographic, environmental, economic, socio-spatial and institutional challenges leading to loss of green spaces. The need to address these challenges are some aspects of concern within Kisumu City addressed by the study. Systems Theory was applied in the study and it focused on various components or sub- sectors which must function together in the urban environment. In this study therefore, Kisumu City is regarded as a system. The main problem addressed by the study was dysfunctional use of green spaces leading to their loss, aesthetic value and low environmental quality thus affecting ecotourism transformation. The broad objective of the study was to determine how urban green space planning can aid in transforming ecotourism in Kisumu City.