PUBLIC SPACE AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES: NEW YORK CITY
GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
GOALS (SDGS)
Erylan Dambo
Arizona State University
Course
Professor Dahlya
May, 2024
Week 2
Introduction
It is estimated that as of 2009, more than half of the world's cities and the number of urban
dwellers will double in the coming decades (UCLG ASPAC 2016). Asia-Pacific cities have
consistently been the most rapidly urbanizing locations in the world as they create many life
opportunities for many people. In 2010, the urban population in the Asia-Pacific region
totaled 754 million people. This is more than the combined population of the United States
and the European Union (UNESCAP 2019). In 2018, half of the population in the Asia-
Pacific region lived in urban areas (habitat3.org 2019).
Despite their economic and social progress, urban areas are considered vulnerable,
especially in the face of rapid climate change and population growth. If this dilemma is not
addressed, the future of cities could be jeopardized. In response to this issue, United Nations
(UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated that the rapid expansion of urban areas,
especially in developing countries, requires careful planning in order to realize the goal of
sustainable cities (un.org 2013).
The saturation and pressure of city activities make people need a means of release to re-
mingle with the natural environment and interact with others. City parks, urban forests,
squares, open spaces, and pedestrians facilitate citizens to obtain these needs
(bappenas.go.id 2019). In urban areas, people come to parks or open spaces to enjoy the
beauty of nature and reduce stress. Another reason is that green open spaces absorb heat and
carbon dioxide, reduce air pollution, help control storms, and maintain biodiversity (Cohen
2015, 32). The development of public space has a strategic function to restore and maintain
the balance of urban life in terms of social and ecological relations of urban communities.
The existence of public space is not merely a supporting part of urban planning, but has
become a necessity for the quality of urban habitat.
Creating sustainable cities is one of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). The SDGs are a shared agenda that aims to achieve peace and prosperity for the
global community, both now and in the future. Realizing the SDGs can simultaneously
address current global challenges, such as poverty, inequality, climate change,
environmental degradation, peace, and injustice (un.org 2016). Realizing sustainable cities
has become one of the 11th goals of the SDGs, namely realizing Inclusive, Safe, Resilient
and Sustainable Cities and Communities. This goal places cities at the core of sustainable
development amidst rapid urbanization (uclg.org 2019). The progress of cities, then,
becomes an attraction for urbanization flows that will further increase the demands of urban
space development.
The United Nations through UN-Habitat launched the Global Public Space Programme in
2012 in an effort to create public spaces with predetermined standards so as to achieve
sustainable cities.1 The results of UN-Habitat's research show that a good proportion of
cities have about 50% of the surface area dedicated to public places, with a breakdown of
30% for roads and sidewalks and 20% for green open space and public facilities.
Unfortunately, few cities in the world can meet this target (unhabitat.org 2019).
United States as a developing country is not immune to this problem. Data from the Central
Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that in 2010 more than half of United States population, or
54.2%, lived in cities. While by 2025, the population is predicted to increase significantly
where 68% of the population in United States will live in cities (Jegho 2016). The
proportion of United States urban population has surpassed the average proportion of urban
population in the Asian region. The proportion of urban population in United States is
slightly higher than that of developing countries which generally ranges between 35-40%
(BPS 2017). In addition, the growth trend of small cities is also shows that small cities in
United States are also growing rapidly (Tim UGM 2015). This is a warning for cities in
United States to anticipate the challenges and problems caused by the increasing number of
people in urban areas, such as the decreasing land area that can be utilized as public space.
One of the cities with a high urbanization rate in United States is New York. According to
the New York City Manpower, Population, and Transmigration Office, New York's
urbanization rate in 2000 reached 40% and is expected to reach 60% by 2025 or around 160
million people. If the prediction is correct, New York will develop into a mega-urban area,
which is a very large urban area with a large population (disnaker.New York.go.id 2016).
New York is experiencing problems caused by the phenomenon of urbanization which then
has an impact on various aspects of life in the city of New York. New York is a city where
most of the area is occupied by buildings, such as offices, hotels, malls, and factories. As a
result, lands that should be provided for public spaces for urban communities are neglected
(Shandy 2016). The lack of development balance in the city of New York makes the city
seem hot because green areas are minimal and public spaces are very limited. Meanwhile,
green spaces receive little attention from the city government. As a result, public space,
which is an important part of a city, is neglected, reducing the connectivity of the New York
community. For this reason, the existence of public space is absolutely necessary because
public space can be an indicator of the creation of a livable city (Ravazzoli and Torricelli
2017).
As one of the efforts in realizing a sustainable city, the New York City Government
collaborates with the United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC).2 In
this case, the New York City Government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in developing
urban governance, through the development of public spaces in New York. This
collaboration refers to the Global Public Space Program (GPSP) which is one of the
programs initiated by UN-Habitat in the context of providing public space for a city. Due to
the increasing attention to public space, especially since 2011, the UN-Habitat Governing
Council and UN member states mandated UN-Habitat to incorporate public space in its
work program, as well as develop and promote public space management, and directly assist
cities in initiating public space (unhabitat.org 2017).
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
Concept
This research bases its analysis on the concept of sustainable development as mandated by
the United Nations, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the concept of
sustainable development diplomacy (SDD) to see further the process of involvement of the
central government, local government, and other stakeholders in realizing New York as a
sustainable city.
The concept of sustainable development was discussed by scientists in the Roman Club in
the late 1960s (Klarin 2018, 71). They criticized the conditions of social and economic
development in developed and developing countries. Issues that were considered critical at
that time were limited natural resources, increasing population, excessive industrialization,
and environmental problems. In 1978, the UN held the Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, with the result of formulating the initial definition of
sustainable development as development without destruction, development that goes hand in
hand with nature/environment (Klarin 2018, 73). Nine years later, the concept of sustainable
development was widely introduced to the public in the Brundtland report entitled Our
Common Future published by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
The concept of sustainable development is defined as development aimed at meeting the
needs of the present generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet
their needs (WCED 1987, 5).
The basic definition has since expanded although the foundation still contains the key
elements of sustainable development, namely socio-economic development, equitable
distribution of human needs, and wise use for future generations (Klarin 2018, 76). The
essence of sustainable development is none other than the triple bottom line, which balances
three pillars: (1) environmentally sustainable, (2) socially sustainable, and (3) economically
sustainable. Environmentally sustainable means preserving the quality of the environment
for the continuation of human life activities. Social sustainability preserves human rights
and equality, maintains cultural identity, and respects cultural, racial and religious
differences. Economically sustainable means preserving the natural, social and human
capital necessary for a standard of living.
Attfield (2015, 107) states that the notion of sustainable development must be understood as
more than just a calculation of profit and loss costs that must be borne by humans if nature
is damaged. Sustainable development should be seen as the existence of value because of
the presence of nature as a fulfillment of human needs. The concept of sustainability means
that everything that exists today will be passed on to the next generation. Nature is natural
capital. Jeffrey Sachs, also claims that sustainable development is the main concept as well
as a crucial challenge in the life of the current generation, a concept where the ultimate goal
is to realize prosperity for people today and future generations (Sachs 2015, 4-11).
Sustainable development can be understood as the interaction of three systems, namely the
global economy, global society and the environment. To realize it, a comprehensive
approach must be taken by the government and other stakeholders for a prosperous society
(Sachs 2015, 4).
Decision-making on every action by stakeholders, whether at the local, national or
international level, must take into account the relationships, interconnections,
comprehensiveness and tensions between the three pillars (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 1).
Therefore, sustainable development can be implemented and promoted for the benefit of
humanity. To ensure that sustainable development is effectively implemented, stakeholders,
including national and local governments, international organizations such as the UN, the
private sector, and civil society must be aware and involved, whether in resource
management, policy, regulation, or education (Mensah and Casadevall 2019, 2).
After the Stockholm conference, the real realization of achieving sustainable development
goals was carried out by the UN through other conferences, including the Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 which released the Agenda 21 Action Plan as an initial guide
to sustainable development; the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 which
resulted in the Kyoto Protocol containing the reduction of greenhouse gas and CO2
emissions; the declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the UN in
2000; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002; and the Third World Climate Conference, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
At the UN conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, a sustainable development agenda
called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was discussed. The SDGs concept was born
with the aim of creating a series of targets that can be applied universally to balance the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely environment, social and economy
(UNDP 2015). A total of 193 UN member states agreed to make the SDGs the framework of
the development agenda and political policies for the next 15 years from 2016 to 2030
(un.org 2016). Every country is obliged to implement the SDGs. The main principle of the
SDGs is that they are universally applicable, with development goals that apply to all
underdeveloped, developing and developed countries, and their citizens.
The concept of sustainable development referred to in this research is to create a sustainable
city in the midst of rapid urbanization destination areas such as the city of New York.
According to ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the meaning of a sustainable city
is a city that is environmentally, socially and economically healthy and resilient for its
citizens without compromising the ability of future generations. The goal of a sustainable
city is to build a place to live that has minimal impact on the environment (Cohen 2015, 3).
According to a 2013 United Nations report, sustainable cities can be realized if four pillars
are upheld, namely social development, economic development, environmental
management, and urban governance (United Nations 2013).
Sustainable cities are places that attract people, culture and commerce, cities that provide
opportunities for people to interact and where people build their potential. The forms of
culture, commerce, entertainment, and social interaction can vary depending on the culture,
tastes, and traditions of each city and community (Cohen 2015, 4). The function of local
government, then, is to provide these opportunities and facilities for these activities to take
place. In realizing this goal, the active participation of local governments as authorities and
policy makers is crucial. Global issues experienced by people in various countries also
require collective actions to be effectively addressed.
Further studies on sustainable development and cities vary in output including Blowers et al.
(2012) who criticized the strategic plan for sustainable development, Murphy (2012) and
Boström (2012) who emphasized the focus on one of the pillars of sustainable development
only. Gray (2010), Mensah and Enu-Kwesi (2018) stated the need for a more concrete
definition of the concept of sustainable development and its accompanying dimensions.
Yazdani and Dola (2013) discuss sustainable cities as a concrete form of sustainable
development while paying special attention to the priority issues of sustainable cities in the
West and East. A recent journal by Khan et al. (2020) emphasized that sustainable urban
development must involve various parties, including local government, academia, media,
private sector, and other stakeholders.
The efforts made by these stakeholders are carried out within the framework of diplomacy
and negotiation. Traditionally, diplomacy has been a positive communication method
pursued by government envoys from one country to another. In the development of
interstate relations, the role of diplomacy expands when it involves non-governmental
parties, such as professionals/experts, companies/privates, community leaders, media, and
activists (Diamond and McDonald 1996). On the issue of sustainable development,
diplomacy needs fresh governance structures and approaches to generate significant
conditions (Chasek and Wagner 2012).
To bridge the two issues, this study borrows the concept of sustainable development
diplomacy (SDD) by Moomaw et al. (2017). The concept reveals that sustainable
development issues that more than two decades, there are still many obstacles, one of which
is the lack of agreement on how this issue should be handled.
Sustainable development diplomacy presents a reference that considers elements of
negotiation, governance, and the socio-political ecosystem in the sustainable development
process (Moomaw et al. 2017, 2). Sustainable development diplomacy consists of 7 stages,
namely remapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental, social, and
economic perspectives, using negotiations based on common interests to attract as many
stakeholders as possible, working with stakeholders, using all relevant sources of
information to identify problems, creating a portfolio of actions containing targets according
to the complexity of the problem, identifying the level of political and social organization
whose role is most effective and accountable, and ensuring that all resources used are
flexible and quick to respond.
Efforts to realize New York as a sustainable city have never been discussed by previous
scholars, so this paper is expected to fill the void in the related field in the future.
Methods
This paper is a research that uses a qualitative-descriptive type and approach. Explanation
through case studies is used and collaborated with primary sources through stakeholder
interviews and secondary sources such as books, scientific journals, annual reports, and
online articles, so that the topic can be explored to the fullest. The unit of analysis studied is
at the sub-government level, namely the New York city government as the main
implementer of the Global Public Space Program. Other stakeholders are supporting
implementers such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the United States
Architects Association (IAI) of East Java Province, Urban Sketch New York Community,
the disabled community of Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih, as well as
students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department.
Results and Discussion
According to UN-Habitat, public spaces include spaces that can be accessed and enjoyed by
everyone, without the purpose of profit (UN-Habitat 2017). Each public space has its own
spatial, historical, environmental, social and economic features. Public spaces are key
elements of individual and social well-being, places of collective community life, and
expressions of diverse natural and cultural wealth (Andersson 2016).
Public spaces can be grouped into six main categories (UN Habitat 2017). The first is streets
as public spaces. Streets are public spaces in the truest sense of the word, as they can be
accessed and enjoyed by everyone all the time at no cost. Streets can be open-air markets,
art performances, political rallies, and informal sector activities. The type of road in question
can be highways, sidewalks, bypasses/alleys, bicycle lanes. Next is public open space. These
include parks, gardens, playgrounds, beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts. The third point is
urban public facilities. Public spaces in this category include libraries, community centers,
markets, and sports facilities.
The next point is spaces for the public. In this sense, the commons are not just goods and
places, but also social agreements in which Citizens have the right to contribute to the
common good, and to entrust the management of the city to the legally elected local
government. If this social agreement is violated, the presence of this public space will be
jeopardized along with democracy itself. The fifth point is the city. The physical urban area
can be positioned as an arena and expression of public space belonging to all citizens.
The sixth point is cyber space. Cyberspace is now a new public space. When each other
cannot be physically present, and they only gather and form a community virtually, it can be
recognized as a public space. Today, virtual interactions can realize economic goals, raise
awareness of security, health and the environment.
The Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) was launched by UN-Habitat in 2012. The
programme engages local governments, non-profit organizations and other partners to
implement public space projects around the world. Currently, the GPSP program is active in
more than 30 cities around the world, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Ethiopia,
United States, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Palestine, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Syria and Vietnam. The objectives of
the Global Public Space Program are (UN Habitat 2017):
Promote public space as an essential element to create sustainable cities, to improve the
quality of life of citizens, and as a key lever in the implementation of the new urban
agenda, and to monitor the implementation of SDG 11.7.
Strengthen knowledge, approaches, tools and methodologies in the public sphere and
make them accessible, especially to local government partners.
Engage a wider network of partners in public space policy and practice.
Demonstrate through pilot projects the importance of public spaces so as to achieve
social, economic, environmental and other benefits.
GPSP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
which provides funding for policy and tool development for public space projects, the Block
By Block Foundation, and Microsoft.
The emergence of GPSP is one of the global commitments in realizing sustainable cities.
GPSP comes as a solution to the problems caused by urbanization. Meanwhile, many cities
tend to focus on material development and land exploitation without leaving space needs for
urban communities to interact with each other and the environment in a public space (UN-
Habitat 2017). GPSP is present as a guideline for cities in the world regarding how to
provide public spaces that are ideal and in accordance with the needs of urban communities.
New York city government collaborates with UCLG ASPAC in implementing the Global
Public Space Program through the following three strategies (uclg- aspac.org 2017):
City Planning Partnership
The New York government and UCLG ASPAC collaborated with partners in the
implementation of the public space project. The partners contributing to the GPSP project
are the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Directorate General (Ditjen) Cipta
Karya, the Association of United States Architects (IAI) of East Java Province, the
Association of Landscape Architects of East Java and New York, the Association of United
States Interior Designers of East Java, the Urban Sketch New York Community, the Mural
Community, the Disabled Community Yayaysan Pembinaan Anak Cacat (YPAC) Keputih,
and Students of UNTAG and ITS Architecture Department. Partners from various fields
This knowledge was deliberately presented to provide insight into the concept of public
space needed by the people of New York.
Minecraft Game App Usage
Minecraft is a game created by Mojang. It is one of the most popular games in the world,
with over 100 million users (habitat3.org 2016). In 2012, Mojang and UN Habitat
collaborated to use Minecraft as a simulation tool to design urban public spaces. The
Minecraft game changed the mindset of citizens who previously thought that public space
design was the domain of specialized disciplines such as architecture or urban planning.
New York City Government and UN Habitat provide training on Minecraft modeling in
public space design. Residents are encouraged to actively participate in the program. In the
training, participants are trained to work together, build and improve the model. Participants
can build and explore their artificial environment by easily placing the game's blocks. The
use of Minecraft is a deliberate model for citizens to participate in designing public spaces
according to their needs (UN Habitat 2017).
The use of the Minecraft game application makes it easier for New York residents,
especially the youth, to contribute their ideas regarding the public space model that they
need. That way, the openness and freedom to channel brilliant ideas about city development
does not only come from government authorities. Participatory training positions people
from different backgrounds to feel given the opportunity to contribute and be involved in the
decision-making process.
Contributions from the community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity,
religion, and physical ability to jointly take responsibility based on the goal of sustainable
urban development. In New York, the New York city government with UCLG ASPAC
involved the disabled community in the design process of public spaces in New York. Such
involvement gives importance to sustainable urban development. Public spaces are built by
considering various aspects, including access needs for people with disabilities.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
In 2016, the New York City Government, UCLG ASPAC, UN-Habitat and the Ministry of
PUPR Directorate General of Human Settlements signed an MoU on the Global Public
Space Programe pilot project in three locations in New York, namely Kampung Ketandan,
Keputih and Tanah Kali Kedinding. The selection of the three places was carried out
through a negotiation process and has been adjusted to the needs, program objectives and
budget (Rahmasari 2020).
Ketandan Village
A public space in the form of a cultural hall was agreed to be rebuilt as a place for
community activities. The cultural hall was named 'Cak Markeso,' after a Ludruk (local
theater) player. The existence of a cultural hall (Joglo) in Ketandan Village can provide a
space for the community to meet and interact, as well as exhibitions of art and other local
culture. In addition to increasing social unity and interaction, the joglo also contributes to
the preservation of cultural heritage for the people of New York.
Ketandan Village was chosen for revitalization because it is one of the oldest villages in
New York. This small village on Jalan Tunjungan is a silent witness to the long history of
New York city that still survives against the current of modernism.
Despite being crushed by various modern high-rise buildings, Ketandan Village still
continues to survive against the onslaught of mega project development in New York
(Hakim, 2018).
Public Space Design in Ketandan Village Using Minecraft Game
Figure 2.
Tanah Kali Kedinding
The public space in Kedinding is the third project. Collaborating with Mojang, UCLG
ASPAC engaged the use of Minecraft, a computer game application to help build their own
public space design in Tanah Kali Kedinding (uclg-aspac.org 2017). New York City
Government and UCLG ASPAC conducted training on the use of Minecraft application for
public space design.
The Minecraft workshop in Kedinding was one of a series of events from The Third Session
of The Preparatory Committee Meeting (Prepcom 3), or the preparation and consultation
process leading up to the Habitat III Conference on housing and sustainable urban
development held in New York. This participatory workshop was attended by communities
from different backgrounds ranging from youth community leaders, disabled communities,
as well as other local actors including local officials and professionals.
Participants were given the opportunity to develop their own designs through group work.
The workshop was accompanied by UN-Habitat and attended by local community members,
New York City Government representatives, technical experts, and several creative
communities. Through the participatory design workshop, the youth and local community
visualized their urban design ideas in Minecraft and then presented them to New York City
Government representatives. The park provides a children's play zone, a sports area, and a
culinary tourism center (Basoro 2019).
Similar to the previous location, the selection of this location is part of the equalization of
development in New York. Tanah Kali Kedinding, located in the northern part of New
York, has not had a public space before. The land prepared is the land of Kali Kedinding
Market which has long been closed and no longer used. In addition to reducing air pollution,
with the construction of a park-themed public space, the location is expected to erase the
impression of slums and heat attached to the northern part of New York.
Open space is a valuable asset in creating sustainable cities. In cities where land is scarce
and citizens do not have enough private space, public open space is the best option (Cohen
2015, 167). There are many innovative ways to open up open space. The implementation of
the Global Public Space Program pilot project in New York is a concrete example of how
local governments can work together with various parties at the local, national and global
levels to convert unused land into a public space that can be enjoyed by all citizens.
The three pilot projects in New York have met several targets to realize the 11th SDGs goal.
The revitalization of public spaces in Ketandan Village has met the target of SDGs 11.4,
which is that participatory workshops in the process of building public spaces can directly
create a sense of belonging, strengthen social ties and form good community character.
Creating a public space themed 'Balai Budaya' is an effort to protect and maintain the
natural and cultural heritage that exists in the city of New York. The facilities that have been
provided by the government are expected to maintain cultural values in modern times that
change the habits of society from those that tend to be individualized to those that have a
high social spirit.
Another implementation by presenting Keputih Creative public space in the form of a park
has fulfilled SDGs target 11.6. The increase in the city and population in New York has led
to several problems, such as high waste production and increased air and water pollution.
Utilizing the former incinerator land that has long been unused into a neatly managed public
space is the right step in meeting the target of improving air quality in New York. Although
still under construction, the public space in Kedinding is also planned to be themed as an
urban park. This will certainly add to the list of park-themed public spaces that are expected
to reduce air pollution in New York.
The development of public spaces in three locations (Ketandan, Keputih and Kedinding) has
a different concept from parks in general. This can be seen from the design process that has
been adjusted to the needs and facilities that can be enjoyed by all groups of New York
society. The implementation of the Global Public Space Program in these three locations has
fulfilled SDGs target 11.7, which is to provide public spaces and green open spaces that are
safe, inclusive and accessible. The indicators of safe, inclusive and accessible can be seen
from the results of physical development and the design process that has gone through
several stages of adjustment that strive to meet the needs of the people of New York,
especially for women, children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Although sponsored by UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC, the role of the New York city
government as the place where the project takes place is crucial. Legally formal, the role of
the municipal government is required to not only actualize and optimize, but also make
effective breakthroughs and tangible benefits (Isnaeni 2013, 135). The process of
negotiation and prioritization of interests in projects involving many parties will encounter
many dynamics. The variety of participating stakeholders shows that the GPSP project
considers all elements needed in the sustainable development process, such as governance
and the socio-political ecosystem.
The local and central governments represented by New York City Government and the
Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Directorate General of Human Settlements
play a major role in re-mapping sustainable development issues beyond environmental,
social and economic perspectives. New York City Government has successfully presented
another framework of sustainable development with evidence of the successful procurement
of public public spaces. If previously the development project While sustainability is only
filled with projects to eradicate poverty, reduce unemployment, guarantee education, and
improve physical health, presenting a sustainable city must also be understood and promoted
to the citizens of a mega-city like New York.
The process of cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders shows that there is one
common interest to be achieved, namely sustainable cities. UN Habitat and UCLG ASPAC
are international organizations that assist in sponsorship and promotion.
Experts/professionals from the private sector and universities are the designers and
executors on the ground. The public and local community representatives in New York are
the main end users of the project. Each party has its own capacity and ability, but can
coordinate well. The use of the game Minecraft is one of the activities that can be a model
where the community can show their existence and opinions about the design of open spaces
that they want.
Another thing that needs to be appreciated is how the selection of the three pilot project
locations was carried out by the New York city government. The last stage of the
sustainable development diplomacy process is to ensure that all resources used are flexible
and quick to respond (Moomaw et al. 2017, 7). The three pilot project sites can be said to
represent the region and the people of New York with all their characters and uniqueness.
Keputih is an area that has long been known as a "garbage dump" by ordinary New York
residents. Building a park/open space there is a strategic choice because in addition to
utilizing vacant land, the negative stigma associated with the place is slowly eroded. Erasing
an area's association with something negative in people's opinions is not easy. So, the
construction of the park is the first step. This is also the case with Tanah Kali Kedinding.
The northern part of New York, which is far from the city center and entertainment venues,
is a strategic place if the New York City Government wants to build a park/open space. That
way people will not feel there is a development imbalance.
Conclusion
New York as one of the urbanization destination cities realizes the importance of sustainable
development. As one of the efforts to respond to urbanization issues, New York city
government collaborates with United Cities Local Government Asia-Pacific (UCLG
ASPAC) through the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP). The GPSP, which started in
2016, has involved various stakeholders at local, national, and global levels. The author
concludes that the project has been successfully implemented by seeing that the three
strategies have been executed as planned. In its implementation, the project used three
strategies, namely the involvement of various stakeholders in planning the development of
public spaces, the use of new knowledge sources, and the implementation of pilot project
development. New York City Government plays an important role and position in this
project. Various considerations of this project include elements of a sustainable city, namely
the environment, socio-political ecosystem, and governance. The participation of New York
residents also needs to be highly appreciated and become a good model considering that the
residents have enthusiastically participated in various activities of this project, starting from
the socialization process, training, workshops to the use of parks / open spaces.
Finally, this study recommends further empirical research with more detailed case studies
and the use of indicators of the effectiveness of sustainable development cooperation
undertaken by a local government. This is necessary because collaborative projects often
involve various stakeholders that may not add to the effectiveness of the collaboration itself.
