Urbanization and Change in Children's Play Environments

Comparative Study over Past Sixteen Years in Yokohama

Abstract

CHILDREN'S PLAY ENVIRONMENTS HAS DEGRADED SERIOUSLY DUE TO RAPID URBANIZATION IN MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS. THIS STUDY, THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS, EXAMINES THE CHANGES IN CHILDREN'S PLAY ENVIRONMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER PAST SIXTEEN YEARS IN TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF HODOGAYA WARD, YOKOHAMA. AN ADDITIONAL SURVEY IN MIDORI WARD OF THE SAME CITY HAS PROVIDED DATA TO ASSESS POLICY AND PLANNING TOOLS ADOPTED AS PART OF KOHOKU NEW TOWN SCHEME. MEASURES ARE DISCUSSED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF CHILDREN'S PLAY ENVIRONMENTS.