Figure 1. Aerial orthophoto map of Barcelona with zooms to the two case study neighborhoods (in red). Important meeting points and reference urban parks are pointed out on the map. Source: CartoBCN.
Photos from the authors.

By Amalia Calderón-Argelich, Isabelle Anguelovski, Valeria-Carolin Cuenca, Helen V.S.Cole, Margarita Triguero-Mas, Blanca Valdivia, and Francesc Baró.

Read the full paper here.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to how people used and viewed green and blue spaces such as squares, parks and the seafronts. This study focused on two neighborhoods in Barcelona, Spain, that were already undergoing pressures from gentrification and tourism due to either innovative changes to the streets to form new green avenues and squares (Sant Antoni Superblock) or proximity to the beach (La Barceloneta and surrounding public areas).

We gathered information from women and non-binary residents using surveys, focus groups, participatory walks, and interviews, as these groups often face unique intersectional vulnerabilities and are frequently underrepresented voices crucial for understanding the social dynamics of public spaces and inclusion. We asked those responding to think about their experiences before the pandemic, during the intense lockdown, and as restrictions were gradually lifted.

The COVID-19 lockdown led neighborhood women and non-binary residents to use the green and blue areas closest to them almost exclusively because of mobility restrictions. During this time of uncertainty, residents felt they had their neighborhoods to themselves. However, once the lockdown ended, the effects of gentrification and tourism reappeared, with local and international visitors overcrowding the beach area of La Barceloneta and re-activating the commercial activities of the surroundings of Sant Antoni Superblock.

Overall, public green and blue areas were crucial during and after the pandemic for community support, especially for women and non-binary residents, helping people cope with the crisis. However, the pressures of gentrification and increased tourism disrupted these support networks, making women and non-binary residents feel excluded and displaced. Our study highlights that parks and public spaces are essential for community life but can also be places where people experience exclusion. It further emphasizes the need for just and inclusive urban green planning processes which can ensure all people benefit from these spaces.

To further illustrate these experiences, the following videos feature testimonials from women in Sant Antoni and La Barceloneta, providing personal insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent gentrification have affected their daily lives and well-being. These interviews are part of the broader FEMPUBLICBCN project, with filming and editing by Alberto Bougleux.