Urban Open Space Planning in Southern Ontario: Lessons from the Red Hill Valley Project
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Urban open space systems are interconnected networks of green spaces, waterways, and undeveloped lands that link regional ecological corridors to the city. In Ontario, a structure of related land-use policies informs urban open space planning and development. In this study, a policy analysis, a case study, and an evaluation of policy development were undertaken to investigate the outcomes of the Red Hill Valley Parkway Project in Hamilton, Ontario. The methods employed were a document analysis, key informant interviews, and a policy analysis using an established policy evaluation framework. This study identified institutional learning by Project stakeholders and investigated if this learning had informed policy development at the provincial level. Results show that the Open Space Replacement Strategy and the creation of the Joint Stewardship Board are evidence of institutional learning. Lessons from this Project have improved Hamilton's planning practices, but have not directly influenced provincial policy development to date.