Effectiveness of Fukuoka City's Community Park Project to Watch Over and Create Interaction

Abstract

Fukuoka City has developed a community park project to solve problems such as over-restricted park uses and the decline in the functions of watching over and supporting each other. If some conditions are met, the establishment of a "Park House," which is a recreation and education facility of the park facilities, is permitted. This study aims at verifying the effectiveness of the Park Houses in creating watching over (“mimamori”) and interaction opportunities through three event such as Japanese-style café and gardening class in a park with a Park House. Here, “mimamori” was defined as "more than acquaintanceship and mutual concern for each other" and interaction was defined as "involvement beyond greeting". As a result, the project succeeded in creating the effect of watching over people by having local residents become event planner and involving their acquaintances who were showing signs of social isolation. In addition, it created opportunities for participants, including those who tend to be shut-in or isolated due to lack of conversation, to make new acquaintances and deepen relationships with those they already know. Further long-term verification through continuous events is necessary in the future.