THE PARTICIPATORY APPROACH FOR WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES. A CASE STUDY OF TRIPOLI, LEBANON WATERFRONT

Public waterfronts are considered an important touristic target in coastal cities. The development of these spaces is affected by many social, economic and political issues. Public participation has been an important tool for communities to influence the making of public spaces. This research aims to develop a participatory approach for waterfront development in Mediterranean countries by studying people behavior and activities on public waterfronts and investigating the socio-economic factors that influence the usage of these areas. It is a bottom-up approach that analyzes how activities emerged from people needs. This research is a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches that undertakes a case study with its activities and is based on socio-economic studies, behavioral and physical analysis. The used tools and techniques are: documentation, direct observations, lengthy-interviews and questionnaires with stakeholders (users and visitors). This paper is a preliminary study and part of an ongoing PhD research where the outcome will be a participatory matrix approach dedicated to decision makers to facilitate the effective participation of stakeholders in development of the waterfront. Also, it should improves the waterfront economic status, enhances the development and allows the new plans to be implemented in order to make a valuable public space open to the all citizens and tourist