From attractive greenery to functional greenery: new approach to municipal management |
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New research calls for earlier involvement of green professionals and structural management budgets
Municipalities should focus less on what greenery looks like and more on what it does. This is a key conclusion of the research report 'Future-proof green space management' by Groen In en Om de Stad (GIOS) Leeragenda 2.0. According to the researchers, climate adaptation, biodiversity, water management and health should play a greater role in decisions about design and management.
| Image NWST, for illustration |
In many municipalities, green space management is still largely determined by visual quality standards and maintenance frequencies. According to the study, this approach no longer reflects the functions that public greenery is expected to fulfil today. A planted public area, for example, should not only be neatly maintained, but can also contribute to water retention, cooling and biodiversity.
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Green space management should focus less on what greenery looks like and more on what it does
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Green professionals involved earlier
This change also has consequences for collaboration between municipalities, designers and green companies. According to the report, the expertise of green professionals is currently often brought in only after the design has already been completed. Yet knowledge about soil, planting, growing conditions and manageability is particularly important at the start of a project. This allows the long-term functioning of greenery to be taken into account during the design phase.
The report identifies five areas where change is needed: alignment between policy and management, data and monitoring, knowledge and professional expertise, financing, and communication and participation. Municipalities and green companies should not only make agreements about work and maintenance frequencies, but also about the desired results and the functions that the greenery should fulfil.
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Management budgets should grow in line with the amount of green space
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Include management from the outset
Financing also receives explicit attention. According to the study, management should not be treated as a budgetary afterthought, but should be included from the planning stage onwards. One of the recommendations is to link management budgets to the growth of the amount of green space. In addition, municipalities should consider not only construction costs, but costs over the entire lifespan.
The research was presented during the Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte 2026 by Olivia Riksen of &flux and Marc Wichman on behalf of Koninklijke VHG. VHG was one of the initiators and was part of the project team.
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The expertise of managers and green companies is needed as early as the design phase
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This article was previously published on 1 October 2026 on the website of Stad + Groen.
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