Improving the Management of Public Space: Proposals for the Territorial Organization of the Urban Center of Sincelejo, Colombia

Abstract

The management of public space in the city of Sincelejo, Colombia, faces great challenges that affect the quality of urban life and order in the central part of the city. Despite the progress proposed in the Land Use Plan, serious problems of saturation and disorganization persist, particularly in areas such as the Transport Terminal, the New Market, the entrance to the University of Sucre and the historic center. These places show a lack of effective planning and regulation, which allows the disorderly occupation of public space by informal vendors, vehicles, and unregulated activities. This study analyzes the causes and effects of this excessive occupation and proposes solutions to improve mobility, safety and citizen enjoyment. It was identified that the lack of adequate state intervention, low citizen culture and lack of infrastructure are key factors in the congestion of public spaces. Based on the analysis of the problems and taking as a reference strategies implemented in cities such as Medellín and Bogotá, practical recommendations for Sincelejo are proposed. These proposals seek not only to reorganize spaces, but also to encourage citizen participation and offer economic alternatives to the informal actors who currently occupy these places. The research was carried out using a qualitative methodology, using official documents, citizen surveys and consultations with the Municipal Mayor's Office of Sincelejo. The results indicate that the Transport Terminal is perceived as the most congested area and with the least effective intervention by local authorities. Likewise, an overwhelming support of citizens for the protection of the historic center was identified, raising the need to allocate it to tourism and guarantee a viable economic transition for informal vendors. Finally, a series of recommendations are established to improve the use, use and management of public space in Sincelejo, Sucre.