2021 Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 154-156
In shrinking cities, urban gardening may revitalize existing communities. Urban parks with low usage rates constitute opportune land for creating community gardens (CGs). However, the ability of vegetable fields to meet public interest is often questioned, leading municipalities to hesitate to establish CGs in urban parks. To discuss the problem, this report describes how Hirano Coop Nouen in Kobe City, Hyogo, was opened. The author interviewed the responsible municipal division and private company to grasp the history of the garden. The results show that the CG currently exists as an experimental project by the Division of Agriculture and Fishery of Kobe City and the future development should be examined. Additionally, creating an open-access CG and providing learning opportunities may be essential for community building.
