Oportunidades para la gestión del espacio público en México

The objective of this article is to identify and analyze the opportunities available for the management of recreational and sports public spaces in Mexico, with emphasis on the Granjas de San Isidro neighborhood in the city of Puebla. The methodology employed was descriptive-exploratory, based on a documentary review of sources from international organizations and governmental bodies at the three levels of government. The information was systematized through an inventory of calls for proposals and funding programs, as well as through the identification of governmental and social institutional actors involved in public space management. Complementarily, interviews were conducted with representatives from institutional and community sectors. The results show the existence of 15 programs and calls aimed at the creation and revitalization of public spaces, in addition to 21 actors fulfilling roles in regulation, financing, implementation, and promotion. It is concluded that, although there is a significant institutional offer, its effective use largely depends on the knowledge and management capacity of local actors. Furthermore, the need to strengthen the articulation between community initiatives and governmental structures is highlighted to advance toward collaborative governance schemes in public space management.