Criterios e indicadores para la planificación urbana de los espacios recreativos y áreas verdes en asentamientos concentrados de las parroquias rurales del cantón Cuenca: aplicación en la parroquia Ricaurte

Abstract

This research addresses the need to strengthen urban planning processes in concentrated settlements of the rural parishes of Cuenca canton, with the aim of ensuring equitable access to recreational spaces and green areas. The main objective was to establish criteria and indicators for the proper allocation of land reserves for these spaces, applying the proposal to the parish of Ricaurte. The study follows a mixed-methods approach structured in five phases: 1) development of the conceptual and regulatory framework, 2) analysis of case studies, 3) formulation of criteria and indicators, 4) application in the study area, and 5) systematization of results. The methodology included document analysis, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the development of indicators tailored to the rural context. Strategic areas for land allocation were identified based on accessibility, physical suitability, and infrastructure availability. The proposed methodology contributes to the technical strengthening of planning in concentrated rural settlements and may be replicated in other parishes of the canton. Finally, the proposed indicators proved effective in guiding urban planning processes grounded in specific and contextualized criteria.