Research Fellow
Chris Boulton is a consulting greenspace researcher, recognised as one of Australia’s leading urban greenspace practitioners: a practicing academic, the founding principal and Managing Director of The CityGreen Lab Pty Ltd, and Research Fellow with the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Sustainability Research Centre, and Griffith University's Cities Research Institute. Chris is also Parks and Leisure Australia’s Executive Officer – QLD, responsible for organizational governance, training, professional development, and research to support members across the region.
As a Parks Manager for almost 10 years and with qualifications in landscape architecture, environmental planning, and criminology, Chris has almost 30 years of professional experience in urban greenspace provision – from management, planning, design, delivery, to operations. Chris has an acute appreciation of the values, challenges, and opportunities for supporting healthy cities generally, and especially for vulnerable communities. In 2019, Chris founded The CityGreen Lab to inspire effective urban greenspace provision, and develop emerging domestic and international, academic and industry relationships, through research and practice collaboration.
Qualifications
PhD (Environmental Planning & Management), Griffith University, 2019; Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice (1st Class Hons), Griffith University, 2008; Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture, Queensland University of Technology, 1997; Bachelor of Arts (Urban Planning & Architecture), University of Queensland, 1993.
Research Interests
- Urban greenspace; park, cemetery & open space planning & management practice
- Leadership & organisational culture; municipal governance
- Crime prevention, perceptions of safety & park use
- Environmental planning policy; planning & human geography pedagogies
Memberships
- Honorary Fellow of Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
- Member of Parks and Leisure Australia
- Corporate Member of the City Parks Alliance (USA)
Awards, Grants & Scholarships
Parks and Leisure Australia’s National Award of Excellence - Research (2020)
Parks and Leisure Australia’s Regional (QLD) Award of Excellence - Research (2020)
Griffith University’s Publication Assistance Scholarship (2019)
Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute HDR Travel Support Scheme (2019)
Australian Government’s (Department Education & Training) Endeavour Research Fellowship (2018)
Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute HDR Travel Support Scheme (2017)
Griffith University’s Post-Graduate Research Scholarship (2017-2019)
Key Research Publications
Boulton, C., Dedekorkut-Howes, A. and Byrne, J. (2021). Governance factors shaping greenspace provision: From theory to practice. Planning Theory and Practice. 22:1, 27-50 https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2021.1879240
Boulton, C., Dedekorkut-Howes, A., Holden, M. and Byrne, J. (2020). Under pressure: Factors shaping urban greenspace provision in a mid-sized city. Cities, 106. https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/o4AFCvl0KYH7WqAMwHoRFp1?domain=authors.elsevier.com
Boulton, C., Dedekorkut-Howes, A., and Byrne, J. (2019). Through a Local Governance Lens: Divergent and Convergent Perspectives of Effective Urban Greenspace Provision. State of Australian Cities 2019 Conference Proceedings, Perth, Australia. https://apo.org.au/node/305903
Boulton, C. (2019) Is There a Better Approach to Providing Urban Greenspace? Doctoral Thesis. Gold Coast: Griffith University, School of Environment and Science. https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/389723
Boulton, C., Dedekorkut-Howes, A. and Byrne, J. (2018) Factors shaping urban greenspace provision: A systematic review of the literature. Landscape and Urban Planning. 178 82-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.05.029 (Impact Factor: 4.994 - Number 1 journal in Urban Studies)
Boulton, C., Byrne, J. and Dedekorkut-Howes, A. (2015). The Role of Political and Financial Factors in the Provision of Parks: The Case of Logan City, Queensland. State of Australian Cities 2015 Conference Proceedings, Gold Coast, Queensland Australia. https://www.apo.org.au/node/63206