Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to find the use of abandoned open space in more than 30 dissolved elementary schools, situated mainly in the rural part of Phayao province, and to provide guidelines for appropriate open space usage to the community in the local area. From studying and analyzing the use of community open space in Northern part of Thailand and in other countries, I have found that some of the usages are similar, as it is open for public activities, such as; cultural activities, socializing, public gathering, economic exchanging. Some are different, such as; supplying food and other resources, creates good circulation of air and comfort for the community area. However, all these usages could be applicable to the use of the schools open space. Studying Ecosystem services and Green infrastructure helps us understand how directly and indirectly ecosystem is beneficial to the Quality of life and how using Green infrastructure encourages Ecosystem services. In addition, the use of community open space is related to Ecosystem services in many ways, such as; the use for social, cultural and economic activities are related to Cultural services, the use of Kuang (Northern Thai community open space) that helps air circulation, is related to Regulating services and indirectly benefit human populations with its Supporting services, and in countries that use community open space for providing food and other resources, it is related to Provisioning services. Combining many uses of community open space as mentioned with the idea of Green infrastructure leads to theoretical uses of open space. Then blending it with local peoples usages which might have found in some abandoned schools by surveys and interviews with local people in the school area of Phayao province. Consequently, these theoretical uses can be realized and applied to use with these abandoned schools open spaces. By considering these applied uses with each open spaces physical and cultural characteristics and its present usage, I am able to provide guidelines for suitable open space usage to the community in the local area that can be further used for participation. This research hopes to be an example for any community wishing to have better uses for their open space.