ARC 035

PLANNING 2
FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN DESIGN
& COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE

"DIFFERENT TYPES OF ZONING AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING”

(PARKS AND OPEN SPACE)"
Case Study 2

College of Engineering & Architecture

University of Pangasinan - PEN

03-2021-05197
Student number

Archt. Maria Teresa Cuares - Velasco

Instructor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
• WHAT ISA PARK AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE?......................................................................................................... 4
• THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE..............................................................................................................5 - 6
• PUBLIC OPEN SPACE (ACTIVE AND PASSIVE OPEN SPACE)................................................................................7

LEGAL ASPECTS
• WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS WHERE OPEN SPACE IS NECESSARY?.............................................9 - 10
• ZONINGS IN PLANNING..........................................................................................................................................11 - 18
• LAND CAPABILITY AND SUITABLITY......................................................................................................................19 - 20
• EXISTING LAWS THAT AFFECTS THE OPEN SPACE PLANNING.........................................................................21 - 22
• THE EXISTING PLANNING SYSTEM...........................................................................................................................23
• PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PROVISION OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................24 - 26
ANNEX
• CASE STUDIES (EXAMPLES)...................................................................................................................................27 - 33

REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................................................34
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS PARK AND
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
Park is an area of naturally occurring,
semi-natural or planted space set
aside for human enjoyment and
recreation or for the protection of
wildlife or natural habitats. Urban
parks are green spaces set aside for
recreation inside towns and cities.

Open space is any open piece of land

that is undeveloped (has no buildings
or other built structures) and is
accessible to the public. Open space
can include: ... Green space includes
parks, community gardens, and
cemeteries.
THE BENEFITS OF
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
Open space provides a wide array of
social, health, economic, and
environmental benefits to individuals
and to the community as a whole. It is
an essential ingredient for enhancing
the livability of an
area and improving the quality of life
of its residents. Easy access to well
designed and diverse open
spaces will assist in not only
managing the negative impacts of
rapid and massive urbanization and
population growth, but also enhancing
the benefits that open space provides.
 BENIFITS

SOCIAL BENIFITS
Health Benefits Environment Benefits Economic Benefits
• connect and build strong
communities • encourages physical • protection of areas of • Parks are a major
activity; conservation, biodiversity attraction for recreation
• improve livability in urban
• enhances physical and • and cultural heritage and tourism industries,
environments
mental health; value; • Active open spaces,
• helps reduce the risks of • reduction of air and noise especially sports
developing chronic pollution; and fields,serve the same
purpose by attracting
• diseases; • Managing climate change participantsand
• assists in recovery from impacts by providing spectators beyond the
mental fatigue; and shade and cooling, local area andthus have
contributing to urban heat significant contribution
• enhances children’s abatement, contributing to to the inflow of
development and wellbeing. storm-water management,
and by serving as disaster economic benefits.
evacuation centers
PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

Land set aside for the primary purpose of formal out Land that is set aside for public recreation and leisure, or as parklands or for similar purposes. It
includes both passive and active open space. Examples of these include Rizal Park in Manila, Burnham Park in Baguio, Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Park in
Quezon City, Rainforest Park in Pasig City, People’s Park in Davao, the parks that are normally found within residential subdivisions, and foreshore
easements along beaches in coastal areas. Land set aside for the primary purpose of formal out

ACTIVE OPEN SPACES PASSIVE OPEN SPACES

door sports by the community, such as areas, nature reserves, public squares,
city-owned basketball courts and playgrounds, and community gardens that are made
the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon available for passive recreation, play and
City, the Marikina Sports Complex, unstructured physical activity. Examples
Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod City, of these include town plazas, city parks,
and other sports complexes found in easements along rivers and creeks, and
Provincial capital cities which host the National Forest Reserves.
annual Palarong Pilipino.
Open space that is set aside for parks,
gardens, linear corridors, conservation
 LEGAL
ASPECTS
 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS WHERE OPEN SPACE IS NECESSARY?

URBAN BUILT-UP AREAS GROWTH AREAS PERI - URBAN AREAS

These are well established These are areas at the fringe of the Urban These are lands that are non-urban
areas in the traditional “center” Built-Up Areas where further urban but are close to cities’ and towns’
of the city or municipality. growth and expansion is expected or already growth
They are usually traversed by taking place. They include areas. They have a relationship to the
major inter-city roads, and are lands that may be occupied by large urban areas they surround as well as
the areas where the “downtown” industries or commercial farms, but the hinterlands in which they are
or “central business district” is located.
located.(e.g. Poblacion or urban may no longer be relevant for such uses
barangays) because of urbanization and commercial
development.

REGIONAL AREAS RURAL AREAS

These include a cluster of cities and

municipalities that focus on their
collectiveREGIONAL
AREAS These include smaller municipalities and
economy, employment, and the farming communities. These areas
management of their natural resources include peri-urban areas where some
and environmental assets. They include residential communities already exist
urban built-up areas, growth areas, and the growth boundary expands into
and peri-urban areas. the rural countryside.
 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SETTINGS WHERE OPEN SPACE IS NECESSARY?

A consistent and clear approach to defining and classifying open space is important throughout the entire
planning and design process. Various approaches that are used to classify open space have tended to focus
on the following:
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

SMALL OR LOCAL PARKS • Open space serving a small catchment

area such that users are within safe
walking distance. This could be in the range of
150m to 300m, depending on
the population density and the presence of
barriers.
• Site may be less 0.50 hectares and can be
quite small. A minimum width of
30m would be preferred to achieve a
reasonably proportioned open space.
• Examples include parklands, gardens,
plazas and civic spaces.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

• Open space serving an area generally

with a walking distance of 400m to 500m
from houses.
• Size would generally be from 0.75 to 1.00
hectare, with a minimum width of 50m to
achieve a reasonably proportioned open
space.
• Examples include parklands, gardens,
plazas and civic areas.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

SUB-DISTRICT PARKS

• Open space serving three neighborhoods,

generally with a size of 5-6 hectares.
• Generally provide several recreation nodes
offering a wide range of
opportunitiesincluding sporting facilities.
• Passive recreation provision is important
either as the primary function or to
compliment a sporting use.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

DISTRICT PARKS • Open space of around 10 hectares, serving

around six neighborhoods or a population
catchment area of 15,000 to 25,000
people.
• Generally provide for a wide range of
formal and informal recreational activities
including facilities for organized sports and
passive use of open space.
• Accessible to residents by safe walking
and cycling routes. Where provided
beyond 1km from residences, can also be
accessed by public transport or motor
vehicle.
• Examples include sports fields and
conservation reserves.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

MUNICIPAL PARKS • Open space providing for the needs of the

whole city or municipality. Ideally located at
a minimum of 2km from residences. Will
require access by public transport or motor
vehicle, and provision of parking.
• Minimum of 3 hectares would be
reasonable for a municipal open space.
• Open space at a municipal level may be
specialized for specific sporting
infrastructure.
• It will be important to ensure that informal
recreation and passive activities are well
provided for.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

REGIONAL PARKS • Open space serving the catchment

including and beyond the municipality,
including neighboring municipalities.
• Size generally 10 to 30 hectares.
• Also includes important sites of historical,
cultural or environmental significance.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

REGIONAL PARKS • Open space serving intra-region catchment

or the entire country.
• Usually associated with site-specific
environmental, cultural or landscape
values.
• Usually managed by the national
government, in some cases in partnership
with the host local government unit.
• Examples include National Parks and
National Forest Reserves.
 ZONINGS IN PLANNING

REGIONAL PARKS • Open space serving the catchment

including and beyond the municipality,
including neighboring municipalities.
• Size generally 10 to 30 hectares.
• Also includes important sites of historical,
cultural or environmental significance.
 LAND CAPABILITY AND SUITABLITY

• Land Capability
Land capability assessment is necessary when one or more of the following are involved:
• The site is more than 5 hectares and asignificant proportion of the site will be
• developed;
• Road construction is involved; and
• The average slope of the site is over 10 degrees and a significant proportion of the site will be developed.

For all these situations, an initial assessment is necessary which will involve determining
• the erosion risk and general limitations of the
• slope and soil characteristics. A further or
• full assessment will also be necessary, which
• involves:
• Determining the engineering risks the proposed development may encounter;
• Determining the mitigation measures to contain any problems;
• Assessing the cost, required land or other limitations arising from the mitigation measures; and
• Reviewing the appropriateness of the proposed land use in the light of the preceding
• analysis.
 LAND CAPABILITY AND SUITABLITY

• Some existing laws, regulations and standards provide some guidelines about the type of land that should be
provided as open space. These require that public open space be:
• Provided along foreshores, rivers, creeks and permanent water bodies.
• Be linked to existing or proposed future public open spaces where possible.
• Be integrated with floodways and unencumbered land that is accessible for public recreation.
• Be suitable for the intended use.
• Be of an area and dimensions to allow easy adaptation to different uses in response to changing community active
and passive recreation preferences.
• Maximize passive surveillance.
• Be integrated with urban water management systems, waterways and other water bodies.
• Incorporate natural and cultural features where appropriate.
 EXISTING LAWS THAT AFFECTS THE SPACE PLANNING

National Government
The national government is mainly associated with national parks and reserves established to protect areas of environmental,
biodiversity or cultural significance. There are a number of national legislations dealing with a wide range of open space
concerns. These include the following:

An Act Creating RA
the Commission
826
on Parks and
Wildlife,
Defining its
PD The National
Powers, Functions
1096 Building Code
and Duties
(specifies a
percentage of
Revised Forestry PD measurement for
Code of the site occupancy
1559
Philippines (refers with regards to
to National open space)
Parks that are
considered forest PD Defining Open
1216 Space for
lands)
PD 975
 Subdivision and
Condominium
Buyers’
An Act Providing RA Protective Decree
for the Protection (specifies the
10066 required
and Conservation
of amount of open
the National space as a
Cultural Heritage PD percentage
957 of the total
subdivision area,
specifically
The Local RA for Open Market
Government Code Housing)
of the 7160
Philippines
(requires all local
government BP Housing and
units to provide 220 Subdivision
parks, greenbelts, Standards for
forests, public Socialized and
open spaces, and Economic Housing
playgrounds for
their constituents)
 THE EXISTING
PLANNING SYSTEM

HLURB’S CLUP
RA 7160 PD 1096
GUIDELINES
This requires LGUs to This sets measurements These provide for a Land
formulate and standards for builtup Use Plan with an
Comprehensive areas in cities and accompanying
Land Use Plans (CLUP) and municipalities, which Zoning Ordinance
Zoning Ordinances (ZO) include Parks and Open within which LGUs
where parks and open Spaces; and can incorporate Parks
space can be provided for. and Open Spaces.
Parks and Open Spaces
are part of the package of
“services” that LGUs are
required to provide in line
with their public welfare
mandate;
Public Open Space Provision
Objectives:
• To provide a network of quality, welldistributed,
multi-functional and cost-effective
public open space that includes local parks,
active open space, linear parks and trails, and
links to national parks and open space;
• To provide a network of public open space that
caters to a broad range of users;
• To encourage healthy and active communities;
To ensure land provided for public open space
can be managed in an environmentally sustainable
way and contributes to the development
of sustainable neighborhoods.
 Public open space should:

• Be provided along foreshores, streams and permanent water bodies.

• Be linked to existing or proposed future publicopen spaces where appropriate.
• Be integrated with floodways and other danger zones that is accessible for public recreation.
• Be suitable for the intended use.
• Be of an area and dimensions to allow easy adaptation to different uses in response to changing community active
and passive recreational preferences.
• Maximize passive surveillance.
• Be integrated with urban water management systems, waterways and other water bodies Incorporate natural and
cultural features where appropriate.
The provision of public open space should:
• Implement any relevant objective, policy, strategy or plan for open space set out in the Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP);
• Provide a network of well-distributed neighborhood public open space that includes: Local parks within 400 meters
safe walking distance of at least 95 percent of all dwellings, generally 1 hectare (if it does not include active
open space) in area and suitably dimensioned and designed for their intended use and to
allow easy adaptation in response to changing community preferences;
• Additional local parks, plazas or public squares in activity centers and higher density residential areas;
• Active open space of at least 5 hectares in area within 1 kilometer of 95 percent of all dwelling
that is:
a) suitably dimensioned and designed to provide for the intended use, buffer areas around sports fields and passive
open space;
b) appropriate for the intended use in terms of quality and orientation; c) located on flat land;
d) located with access to, or making provisions for, a sustainable water supply; e) adjoin schools and other community
facilities where practical; and
f) designed to achieve sharing of space between sports.
• Linear parks and trails along waterways, vegetation corridors, and road rights-of-way within 1 kilometer of 95
percent of all dwellings
ANNEX
 Public Open Spaces
in Davao City’s CLUP
Guided by its Mission and Vision, the city has identified the need to add at least 25 hectares more of parks and open spaces in their CLUP based
from HLURB standards. While the city acknowledges this shortage through national guidelines, the city is still proposing more than what is
required for their current and future public parks and open space requirements, based from their CLUP.

Davao city’s latest park opened last 2007, the Davao city People’s Park. The city also continues to improve its public open
spaces through renovating existing parks within its CBD and by partnering with NY University and the UN to study on how to
make adequate and more efficient public open spaces.

Davao City People’s Park (Source:

 The Angeles People’s Park
Giving Life to the Community and Idle Spaces
The project also involved the community, the city gov’t spent nothing on the parks – instead it was
made possible through the donation of the public. Because of this according to the city mayor, the
park belonged to the people, hence the name, “Angeles People’s Park.”

Today, the dirty and idle lot of PNR was given a new lease of life as residents surrounding it are now
using it as a place of leisure.

Old PNR Station at Angeles

People’s Park (Source: Google
Maps)
 Cebu City Parks

MISSION
1. To maintain the beautification of the city’s parks and center islands.
2. To create awareness and respect from the public for our parks and center islands.
3. To uphold high morale of members and workers for the Parks and Playgrounds Commission.

Plaza Independencia, Cebu City (Source:

Cebucity.gov.ph)
 Iloilo City Zoning Ordinance (Strengthening
Public Open Spaces Through Legislation)
According to section 55 of Iloilo city’s zoning ordinance, all residential, commercial, industrial-use subdivisions
are required to provide tree-planted strips along its internal roads and that similar subdivisions with
more than ten (10) ha are required to provide an additional landscaped forest park adequate for its occupants
and/or the general public.
It also states that all residential compounds are to provide an open space for playground purposes. But, if it
is for less than ten (10) families, this requirement may be waved as long as there are open spaces that may
be used as yard requirements for the compound. These spaces cannot be converted to other uses.

Artist Rendition of Ilo—ilo

 NO SPACE? NO PROBLEM
The Parks of Pasig City
The city lacked available land for public parks and open spaces, especially in districts that needed them
the most. So instead the usual at – grade parks, the city just decided to put them on top of things.

The Pasig Panorama Park; it is located at the

roof deck of Pasig city hall. It only has a few
vegetation because of structural limitations,
but nevertheless it’s still much greener than
most of the city. The park is aimed to be an
events place, while also offering a panoramic
view of the city. Completed 6 years ago back in
2011, it continuously gives Pasigueños a break
from the busy city life.
The Ortigas elevated plaza, a project
born out of the cooperation between
Pasig city and ADB, places a park above
the busy intersection of Doña Julia Vargas
Avenue and F. Ortigas Jr. Rd. Currently
under construction, it is envisioned
as a part of above and at –
grade covered walks and parks that
aims to transform the Ortigas CBD into
 The Ortigas Central Elevated Plaza

The Ortigas elevated plaza, a project

born out of the cooperation between
Pasig city and ADB, places a park above
the busy intersection of Doña Julia Vargas
Avenue and F. Ortigas Jr. Rd. Currently
under construction, it is envisioned
as a part of above and at –
grade covered walks and parks that
aims to transform the Ortigas CBD into
a green bicycle and pedestrian friendly
workplace.

Top: Ortigas Elevated Central Plaza Design

 REFERENCE:
• Najnin, Arfanara. (2011). Landscape, Public Open Spaces and Public Participation
(Urban Design and Urban Conservation). 10.13140/2.1.2478.4642.
• National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines
• Parks for A Nation: The Rizal Park and the 50 years of the National
Parks Development Committee.
• Parks & Leisure Australia. (2013). Open space planning and design guide. Retrieved from:
http://www.parksleisure.com.au/documents/item/2091
• United States Environment Protection Agency, (n.d.). What is Open Space/Green Space?
Retrieved from: http:www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/uep/openspace.html#main-content