### 1. Development of City Parks and Formation of Good Urban Environments

(1) Development progress of city parks and measures for functionality enhancement

City parks are the key facility for the diversified needs of citizens. Therefore, the development of national government parks and disaster prevention parks, the preservation of ancient cities and the conservation of green spaces are being implemented efficiently and systematically, focusing on 1) the development of secure and safe cities by constructing disaster prevention parks that act as disaster shelters, 2) the development of secure and safe community centers that deal with the declining birth rate and aging population, 3) the conservation and creation of good natural environments that contribute to measures against construction of a cycling society and global environmental problems, 4) the development of centers for tourism promotion that utilize regional specialties and communications/cooperation between regions.

As of the end of FY 2008, the current status of city park

A base for a wide variety of nature experiences and environment conservation --- The Omachi-Matsukawa district was placed in service for the 1st term. (July, 2009)

development took place 96,808 locations and 114,990 ha have been developed; the area of city park per person is around $ 9.6 \, m^{2} $ . Moreover, for national government parks, the yearly number of users in FY 2008 was around 33.28 million persons (1 person out of every 3.8 citizens). In FY 2009, development was pushed forward in 17 places and among these, 16 parks have been opened.

(2) Development of urban green environments

Aiming to realize urban green environments through appropriate measures against the earth’s environmental problems of global warming and conservation of biological diversity as well as the conservation and creation of natural environments, urban greening and green conservation is being pushed forward based on the “Master Plan for Greenery”, which is a basic plan for green conservation and promotion of urban greening stipulated by municipalities. Furthermore, the development of urban parks is being pushed forward through the Nature Restoration Green Space Development Project. At the same time, green conservation is being undertaken by utilizing Suburban Green Conservation Areas and Special Green Conservation Areas which carry out forest conservation through regulating construction activities. The Civic Green Space System was opened to citizens based on this agreement. Moreover, these measures are supported comprehensively by the Green Environment Development Comprehensive Support Project and formation of water-green networks is worked out by carrying out cooperation between road and river projects. Additionally, the greening of private land is being pushed forward through the utilization of the Greening Area System and the Authorized System of Greening Facilities Development Plan.

Moreover, at the same time as carrying out popularization and enlightenment activities like national “Green Protection” gathering, various measures have been initiated for pushing forward popularization and enlightenment, such as various commendations of people who perform greening and evaluation, and recognition of the efforts on greening and green conservation performed by enterprises themselves.

### 2. Promotion of Developing Pedestrian/Bicycle Priority Roads

1) Formation of secure and safe pedestrian priority walking spaces

The development of pavements is being pushed forward especially in school zones. For regions that have difficulty developing pavements, such as urban districts, secure and safe pedestrian area creation is currently being carried out, including simple methods such as coloring the paving of hard shoulders and constructing pedestrian barriers.

2) Development of secure and safe environments for bicycles

Road administrators and the police are cooperating and working out how to create cycling spaces separated from pedestrians and automobiles. 98 spots of cycling environment model districts overall have been designated nationally. Road development for automobiles and the construction of cycling only zones are being pushed forward.

3) Formation of high-quality walking spaces

In order to support the development of attractive regions that enable healthy lifestyles through walking, the Walking Trail Project is being pushed forward for forming high-quality walking spaces with natural and historical scenery. Furthermore, roads used daily have been changed to give priority to pedestrians/cyclists from giving priority to automobiles from now on. In order to have safe and high-quality living spaces, the promotion of “Living Street Zones $ ^{1} $ ” is being worked on.