1st European Conference for the implementation of the UNESCO-SCBD JP on cultural and biological diversity

Koga Park 2003 UNESCO  Melina Mercouri Prize awarded
Citizen participatory management on conservation and creation
of biological diversity environment in periphery of urban area

Auther ：Volunteers of Koga Park Community and Supporters
Kenji Nonaka / Itsuko Kawada / Noriko Kaneko
Yukiko Shiraishi /Tadashi Ishii /Yumi Tamura
Hirotsugu Suga/ Kenichi Hashimoto / Yoshio Nakamura

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                              March 30, 2014
Ⅰ Site

1. General Information
(1) Name:             　　 Koga Park (Koga municipality comprehensive park, Koga-city)
(2) Scale of the site:    Initial planning in total 25.2ha, 22.4ha in service
(3) Address:            　399-1 Kohnosu, Koga-shi, Ibaraki-Prefecture, Japan
(20°15’E., 36°11’N., 60km north of Tokyo)
(4) Geographical feature of the site:
+15 meters above the sea level. The park locates in the middle of the Kantoh-Plane. The park locates in the East of Watarase river, and the park has a restored marsh land (2.8ha) in the hinter land of the river. The Watarase flood retarding basin (33 square kilometers), which is registered as the site of the Ramsar Convention, locates 1km west of the park.
(5) Climate:           Inland climate (Cold in winter, Hot in summer), Annual precipitation 1,100mm. Strong seasonal cold North-West wind blows in winter.
2. Feature of the landscape
The park is surrounded by mountains in 6 to 125 km distance, Mt. Tsukuba in in East, Mt. Nantai and Mt. Akagi in North, Mt. Asama in West, and Mt. Fuji in South-West.
The park doesn’t have fence between surrounding area, and integrated landscape with surrounding area is generated as a result.
3. Vegetation
The area’s natural vegetation is an evergreen broad―leaved forest and the area locates in its northernmost point. Deciduous broad―leaved trees, bamboo thickets and hygrophytes grow in the site. Its ecotone provides diverse living creatures’ habitat with its geographical environment. They form “Satoyama,” which is Micro cosmos generated in interrelation between nature and human living activities.
4. Living creature
The park site, which was former marsh area, was reclaimed in 1950s, for the purpose of agricultural use. The marsh was restored in 1996. When water was led into the marsh, water shield (Brasenia schreberi) and water chestnut (Trapa japonica) grew again after interval of 46 years.
The park has diverse vegetation, such as peach wood (3.5ha), lotus pond (0.3ha), iris field (0.5ha), tea garden (0.3ha), grass field (1.5ha), and Amur silver―grass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus) field.
Following living creatures are observed by the result of survey by citizens: plant 352 species (including 6 bamboos, 15 seed ferns), arboreal 194 species (including transplantation for the gardening), aves 66 species, mammalian 4 species, reptile 6 species, amphibian 5 species, Insects; manifold (including 17 dragonfly species, 20 grasshopper species, 6 cicada species), fishes; manifold (including carp(Caprinus carpio), crucian, killifish, loach, eel, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), etc.). Eleven (11) endangered species and rare species are observed.
5. History of the park and site
(1) The ruins of the palace of the chief warlord of Koga and his tomb
In 1455, the chief warlord Naruiji Ashikaga constructed his palace on the hill, which was surrounded swamp at that age and locates in current park site. During 130 years after the period, the warlord Ashikaga family governed the North Kantoh area politically and militarily. The tomb of Yoshiuji ASHIKAGA and their family locates in the park and they are registered as prefectural cultural heritage with the ruin in their family temple “Tokugen-in”.
(2) “Gosho-Numa”, the Palace Swamp
The swamp inherits its name from the former palace (Gosho) of the chief warlord in 15C. Since the end of Ashikaga family in 1626, the area around the swamp was a commons, which was shared, managed and used by residents of village for the purpose of mowing, fishing and recreational use (boating, place for festival). Because of these histories, the area and its geographical features are considered as cultural heritage of the area.

(3) Folk dwelling
The regional folk dwellings “Tobita-ke” and “Nakayama-ke” is relocated from nearby area of the park and reconstructed. They are registered as national cultural heritage and prefectural cultural heritage. The former is a traditional folk dwelling which has living space with horse barn in L-shaped plan. The latter is a house of a wealthy farmer.
(4) Woods of peach
In the park, there are two thousands of peach trees and it becomes one of famous features. In its blooming season, the peach blooming festival is held and citizens and tourists appreciate its flower. The peach trees were planted under the order of Katsutoshi Doi, the lord of a feudal clan of Koga in 1640s, in order to have fire woods of fast growing tree. These trees became 100ha of peach woods in early 20C.
(5) Tea garden
Tea is a famous product in the area and its garden is a typical regional landscape in the area. 3,300 square meters of tea garden was constructed in front of the folk dwellings (see (3)) in the park. And their combination generates typical landscape of the agricultural zone of the area. The tea association of the area holds tea-picking and tea ceremony in the tea festival event.
(6) Lotus pond
The ancient lotus seeds of 2,000 years old were planted in the marshland of the park. Many photographers and painters visit the park in July, the flowering season of the lotus.
(7) Pond of the Goddess of Eloquence (Benten)
In the pond in the park, there is a tradition that native goddess cures eye disease. The believer releases eels into the pond when their eyes are cured. Many flowers are offered for the stone Budda around the pond.
(8) Mound Mount Fuji
A mound is piled up, using excavated material of the Palace Swamp (see (2)). It inherits the regional traditional religious belief on Mount Fuji.
(9) Gelateria
Gelateria is a restaurant, which locates in the center of the park. In the front of the restaurant, the Universal Garden “Kenkon Hassou garden”is constructed. It was constructed in 1998. Designed by architect Kazuyo Sejima.
(10) Management office
The office building is Multi-span wooden building in the east entrance of the park. It is designed integrating with landscaping design of the former water stream. It functions not only as management office of the park but as visitor center. Designed by architect Hiroshi NAITO.

II  Management

(1)Wetland management
Restoration of Goshonuma marsh
The marsh filled with water today was once reclaimed and disappeared in 1949 for making rice paddy, It is now becoming rich in wild lives including migratory birds.

A small rice paddy once found everywhere in the countryside of Koga has been restored
in the waterfront of the park.  
Fathers enjoying this rice paddy have organized a Rice paddy kids’ club having intentions  to encourage their children to challenge field plays such as rice cultivation, open air noodle services and making soil cave huts.
(2) Satoyama (Demi-Cultivated Eco-cultural sphere)
Observation and management of deciduous forest
A portion of land projected to the Goshonuma water is called the Lord’s Grove covered with deciduous trees and also surrounded by tea plants fields.
Mori-mori (forest supporters) club is engaged in grove managements such as protection of disappearing species, nature observation tours, providing guidance signs, and advices for appropriate eliminations of trees and grasses
Environmental conservation of the marsh
Vis-a-vis with the environmental condition around the restored marsh still somewhat unstable, the members of the retired voluntary association have been inventing various kinds of maintenance measures after voluntary learning in the way to get their retired life worth living.
(3) Commons
 Park master system
This system was introduced in order to   promote and encourage people’s meaningful encounters with the park. In 1999,this system started with the designation  of a qualified garden specialist.

Round table meeting Citizen-participating park management system. Meeting started in 2003 in pursuit of making better use of the Park of Koga. Any kinds of discussions upon ideas, policies and information are expected to be exchanged.

Park-sparkling salon
Organized by mothers accompanied by small children to open kids’ violin concert, rescue leaning seminar and so on. This loosely organized amorphous salon which is opened freely to the public has extended its activities to park management camp, cafeteria supporting services and others thanks to different kinds of aids from private foundations.
(4)Biocultural-Symbiosis
　With wide range of human interventions caused by cultural activities in community, ecological systems may result in increasing their diversity due to a certain level of succession reverse inherent to disturbances. Thanks to sharing landscapes among people during these processes, human activities tend to promote ties of community and also successive generations of new local culture.

Ⅲ　Future subjects to be considered - aim of park management

Philosophy of the park management was drafted as the “The Charter of Koga Park Management” by the voluntary members of the Koga Park Round Table Committee in 2011.
The text intends to clarify the philosophy of the park and to urge its participation among citizens and related persons.

The Charter of Koga Park Management (Draft)

Koga Park Round Table Committee (KPRTC)
September 2, 2011

In 1972, the municipal council of Koga city, as the consensus of the citizens, determined to construct Koga park in its historical heritages area with the habitation site of the General Koga (Kubou) and a peach grove.
As landscape gardening of the park was advanced, the citizens introduced their own activities in the site.
We, as the member of the KPRTC and the citizens of the Koga city, recognized an importance of park management as a tool of socialization, sensibility and susceptibility.
We drafted this Charter, with intention to share fundamental concept of the park management with more people.

Koga park management as “Creation of home town"

• We conserve and raise the park as a starting point of the Koga.

Manifold geographical features of Marsh of the Watarase river and the Sashima plateau generate various landscape and offer habitable environments to diverse life.
In the middle ages, the General Koga constructed his mansion on a tongue shaped plateau beside swamp, which is called “the Swamp of the Palace (Gosho Numa)”.
The member of the KPRTC, as citizen of the Koga city, desired to keep rural life style that is generated in

inter-reaction within its nature around the swamp, as memory of　the hometown, its culture, and its history.

The cultural and spiritual climate of the Koga, as our hometown, are produced in its daily life around the swamp; picking water shield, chasing dragonflies, and viewing the sunset beyond the horizon of the swamp.
The KPRTC fosters the identity of the hometown by communing with its landform, feeling its season, covering its environment, and nursing its landscape.

• We enjoy the park for the generation of the future life style and for the establishment of the civil society.

The famous and historical rural-scape of peach grove beside the swamp was restored with its seasonal blossoms.
Peach flower, wisteria flower, lotus flower, green leaves of Manchurian wild rice, and withered reed grass stage seasonal landscapes and attract visitors of the park.
The peach festival, tea ceremony in the open air, tea picking, carp streamer, painting from nature, and poetry-writing excursion offer opportunities for cheerful and enriched life to the regional community.
The KPRTC enjoy the park as a “Commons of the citizen” for living with the nature in Japanese tradition, for generating bonds of community, and for creating comfortable life.
The UNESCO awarded the Melina Mercouri prize to the park, appreciating the philosophy of the park life and concerning cultural activities.
The KPRTC keeps trying to create future park style by vivid ideas and community relationships with circles.

• We manage the KPRTC with respect to park as citizens’ property, respect to citizens’ originality, respect to liberty, and responsibility.

The park management of Koga park offers opportunity for participation in community creation in familiar field.
The park inherits its natural topography, history, legend, and series of interaction and social intercourse.
The members of the KPRTC, as citizen of the Koga city, enjoy the park as a “Lively space” towards future and with infinite possibility.
The KPRTC was established as a table for expression and exchange of ideas on the park. The KPRTC challenges
management for emergent evolution through voluntary involvement of citizens and local administratio n

Overall bird’s eye view of the park

Please check the website at http://kogapark.iinaa.net/ for more detailed information.