Functionality Analysis of Formal-Green Spaces: The Planning and Development Perspectives (The Case of Durame Town, Central Ethiopia)

Formal green spaces significantly enhance urban living by improving residents’ quality of life and serving as hubsfor recreation, cultural activities, and social interactions. They also provide economic and environmental benefits.However, these advantages can only be realized through effective planning and development. Inadequate practicessuch as poor spatial design, insufficient infrastructure, lack of facilities, and ineffective management often leavegreen spaces underutilized and unable to fulfil their intended purposes. In Durame town, Central Ethiopia region,such challenges have burdened the administration, prompting a study to analyze the functionality of formal greenspaces from planning and development perspectives. The research sought to evaluate the planning and developmentof existing green spaces, identify gaps in proposed plans, assess development progress, and investigate associatedchallenges. A descriptive survey method was employed, using both probability and non-probability samplingtechniques to gather and analyze qualitative data from primary and secondary sources. The findings revealed thatineffective planning practices and insufficient stakeholder investment hinder the functionality of green spaces. Theresearch underscores the need for improved planning and development approaches to enhance the utility of thesespaces, benefiting residents, the municipality, and other stakeholders in the town.