Collaborative mapping of public spaces in Santa Anita district: building a tool for participatory management and transformation

Abstract

The public space is a fundamental component of urban life and a key support for building more inclusive, safe, and cohesive communities. However, in many urban contexts, interventions in these spaces are carried out without effective citizen participation, creating a disconnection between the physical space and the social dynamics that inhabit it. In response to this situation, the program “Santa Anita: Living Public Spaces” was created as a multisectoral collaboration platform aimed at transforming public spaces through a systemic and participatory approach in this district of metropolitan Lima. This article presents the methodology used in this pioneer initiative in Peru and details the process of creating a collaborative mapping of public spaces as a tool for urban management and for the transformation and improvement of public spaces. As a preliminary result, 118 public spaces were surveyed and systematized, integrating physical, social, and governance dimensions, as well as aspects of safety and risk. Part of this database was then incorporated into an online interactive map, whose aim is to provide information to the community while also gathering their contributions. In this way, the work not only organizes and updates relevant territorial information but also seeks to build a more democratic and coordinated management tool for public spaces.