Public Spaces for Children in a Post-Socialist City

AIM: The aim of this research is to present the outcomes of urban transformations during the post-socialist period in Novi Sad, Serbia, from the aspect of quality of public spaces for children.MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research is a contribution to the process of designing public spaces for children in the times of rapid urban changes and a step forward to creating adequate places for children’s play.RESULTS: The socialist legacy of architectural design and urban planning strategies in terms of housing was altered by the new post-socialist patterns. Residential construction became insufficiently regulated and predominantly profit-driven, which resulted in a disregard of the value public spaces for children should have.CONCLUSIONS: Upon analysing public spaces for children in the city after transition, it can be concluded that there is a significant shortage of attractive places for gathering, play and other leisure activities in many of newly built urban neighbourhoods. It also seems that architects and urban planners did not pay much attention to children’s needs. The distribution of public spaces, their proportions and dimensions, programs and contents, should all be planned with the aim to create harmony between spaces and their users, making the whole process of socialization more successful and intensive