Park rules too much? Feb 4 19:40

A WEB article was published last December that elementary school students in Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, petitioned the city council to create a place where they can play soccer.

"Why we did it" (Posted December 17, 2019)
https://www.nhk.or.jp/shutoken/wr/20191217.html

"Why we did it" (Posted December 17, 2019)

Everyone who read the article said, "Urban parks are all prohibited areas and it is hard to play." What's going on in the park? I decided to take a thorough examination of the park in Tokyo.
(Naohiro Toba, Metropolitan Broadcasting Center)

No chorus or running!

I heard that there was an unusual prohibition sign and went to Musashiseki Park in Nerima Ward. The park is a municipal park where you can enjoy walking and jogging on a course about a kilometer around the pond, and playground equipment is installed on the open space.

The signboard was set to read:

"Please refrain from chorus"

"We do not allow training such as running in a group."

"Please do not use the bench for a long time."

When I asked the park users and the ward officials, I found that there were circumstances.

(Chorus)
"In the morning, after doing radio exercises, there were choirs and circle activities such as Tai Chi. Chorus was banned because it was annoying in the neighborhood."

(Running in a group)
"A nearby college sports club came for a run and ran into a child, which was dangerous."

(Long time use of bench)
"There seems to be some people playing shogi all day and occupying the bench."

Certainly, if you think from the viewpoint of other users, you will be in trouble.

I went to a park full of signs

Next was Nishi-Ikebukuro Park, a 5-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station. When you enter the park, you can see signs everywhere.

"No noise"
"Don't feed cats"
"No fireworks"
"No skateboarding"
There is a sign saying "no jump rope".

If you count, the number of prohibited displays is 45!

"I can only make a sign"

Why are so many signs?

When interviewing the Parks and Green Space Division in Toshima Ward, it is said that the background is the increase in complaints and requests from residents.

"People who complain want to take immediate action. The only way for the government to respond promptly is to put up a sign. In some places it's running low. "

In fact, the changing role of the park

When interviewing experts, the change in the role of the park is also affecting.

● The number of parks began to increase in the late 1960s. Until then, children often played on the roads, but car accidents occurred and traffic accidents occurred frequently. Parks are now being set up in residential areas as “a place where children can play safely”.

● In the 1990s, the “Urban Park Law” was revised. Amid the declining birthrate and aging population, "Children's parks", which were primarily targeted at children, have been changed to "Block parks" for all generations. "At that time, elderly people playing gateball were seen everywhere."

● The parks have since become a "local evacuation site" due to a series of natural disasters.

In other words, the role of the park has changed with the times, and the value sought by users has also diversified.

Is the sound of strangers noisy? As relationships become leaner

Associate Professor Hideyuki Nakatsu of Kanto Gakuin University, who specializes in urban planning, points out that “local community functions are deteriorating” behind the overwhelming signs.

Studies in clinical psychology say that whether or not a person feels noisy depends on their relationship with themselves. If you have a relationship where you usually greet and talk, you do not feel noisy, but if your relationship does not make a greeting when you meet face to face, it is easy to feel stress.

As human relations in the region became weaker, systems that had previously been settled autonomously between the parties and the residents' associations stopped functioning, and residents sought the function from the government office. The result is a sign.

Children's “thinking power” robbed by signboards

Associate professor Nakatsu raises "thinking power" as a negative aspect of signage.

(Associate Professor Hideyuki Nakatsu)
"In the days when there were no signboards, children acted thinking about how to get angry. They grasped the situation in and around the park and decided," I'm gonna do this. " However, if there is a sign, it tends to stop thinking that it is a "rule" and refrain from playing itself. "

“Park Innovation” Adachi City is working on

In the interview so far, the situation of the park, which is full of banned signs, can be seen.

So what should we do?

During the interview, it was found that Adachi City had established a “Park Innovation Section” and was working on it in an advanced way.

(Adachi City Park Innovation Section Manager)
"About 500 parks in the ward have many similar parks and some have few users. We aim to create a park with a clear theme and characteristics."

"Two roles" set

The idea was to review the vague functions of the park and set one of two roles for each park.

The two are “Nigiwai Park,” where children can move freely, and “Easy Park,” where people and children who want to spend a quiet time can enjoy.

Gotano Park, which was positioned as a “park of nocturnal”, removed some playground equipment by renovation to secure a space where children can run around.

He also listened to the opinions of local residents, exchanged the fence for the sound of the ball, which he was worried about, and restricted the hours of use by evening.

On the other hand, Seiwa Resting Forest Park, which was positioned as a "park of peace", was previously said to be thick and thick, and was said to be "scary and uncomfortable". Free sidewalks and benches were maintained.

The idea of ​​a reversal "a sign that can be done"

In addition, the signboard is also ingenious.

It's a sign that you can do, not a "banned sign."

Instead of prohibiting that, they talked with the local council and displayed signs on the signboard that they could do "OK for softball catching" and "OK for lifting and passing."

Now is the time to review

Nakatsu evaluated Adachi City's efforts as follows.

(Associate Professor Hideyuki Nakatsu)
"In Japan, we are putting together parks, but overseas, we think of Public Park (diversified open spaces) and Playground (playgrounds) as two different words. By taking that action into account, we can organize the diversified needs for the park and reduce the number of prohibited signs. "

He pointed out that this is an important time.

Many parks are outdated and the time has come for repairs, so it is an opportunity to review the nature of the park in each area.

What is important is that consensus is formed with the local people, and it is hoped that the participation and design of the local people will make it a park that is easy for everyone to use, and will also revitalize the local community.

"The park makes a card game"

There are words that left an impression in this interview.

"The park is trying to get us to play the game."

This is a statement from a schoolchild from Katsushika City who played a card game in the park. In fact, they all want to play soccer.

"Recent kids only play games"
"Do not play outside"
"I lost my strength."

Many have been told.

But part of that responsibility may be with us adults. I gathered in one of the few parks where I could play a ball, and felt like I was watching children playing with each other.

Tokyo Metropolitan Broadcasting Center Reporter Naohiro Toba

Fukuoka Bureau After being in charge of the case at the Yokohama Bureau, he now covers a wide area in Toshima, Itabashi and Kita wards.