E-participation in mapping and typology development: community gardens in Krakow and Brussels

This study compares community gardens in Brussels and Krakow through a mixed-method, participatory approach combining digital mapping, surveys, and qualitative interviews. It develops a typology based on emergence drivers, governance models, spatial patterns, and socio-ecological functions. Findings reveal context-specific governance: Brussels is dominated by bottom-up initiatives facing sustainability challenges, while Krakow features more hybrid municipal–community models. Spatially, gardens cluster in dense, lower-income areas in Brussels and in high-density, mixed-housing districts in Krakow. Participatory mapping proved crucial in reconciling official data with on-ground realities. The typology offers a practical tool for planners to design context-sensitive strategies integrating gardens into resilient urban systems.