Collective appropriation of neighborhood public space. reflections about the “camino al barrio” project, Cali, Colombia

Abstract

This article presents reflections on the research process conducted through inter-institutional coordination between public and private entities in the San Francisco sector of the Siloé neighborhood in Cali, Colombia, between 2018 and 2023. Objective: Work with a vulnerable community in the face of socio-environmental challenges, motivating their participation and empowerment as agents of change, while strengthening neighborhood ties that support urban space improvement processes in the sector. Methodology: This qualitative study employed elements of Participatory Action Research (PAR) to implement actions aimed at improving public space on a neighborhood scale. The goal was to foster training and neighborhood integration through a new social and community feeling, achieved via urban routes, participatory workshops, and focus groups. Results: Application of a community-based project strategy that channels the potential of community leadership and allows progress towards cities with more articulated, functional public spaces that operate in the service of the community. Conclusions: The project led to the formation of the neighborhood collective “Camino al Barrio,” a strategy with a pedagogical approach to encourage citizen participation and collective appropriation of neighborhood public space.