This Study deals with an urban park which have undergone total regeneration that utilizes existing park properties. Specifically, out of many parks that were built more than 25 years ago, those that undertook regeneration in Yokohama city, which is actively promoting urban park regeneration, were considered. Final selection was decided according to following criteria. First, regeneration should be implemented through complete maintenance and improvement of park facilities and planting. Second, a park that undertook regeneration at least within 3 years should be selected in order to ensure that park users are aware of the changes before and after regeneration. Third, the regeneration must be done by active efforts to preserve and utilize existing park properties. Tomioka no.5 park met the first and second conditions. In order to ensure that the park meets the third one, first survey was conducted. Total 50 park users including 25 people who had used the park before regeneration and another 25 who used the park only after regeneration were selected. Various maps, pictures and park regeneration project reports, including a facility demolition floor map, a facility arrangement plan, and a planting arrangement plan were reviewed to identify the characteristics of spatial composition and component after regeneration in order to create survey items. Also, utilization patterns, environment around the park, and the geographical features were checked on site. Based on what was identified, 18 survey items were selected. Respondents were allowed to choose multiple answers for questions to show what components of space and what kind of utilization pattern of Tomioka no.5 park they recognized as park properties(Table 1).

Also, they ranked three most important items that should be preserved as properties of the park. 3 points, 2 points and 1 point were given to items that ranked first, second and third respectively, which made overall score 150 points. The result was that [community festivals and events] item scored more than 75 points, which shows that the item is recognized as valuable properties of Tomioka no.5 park. According to the result, it was concluded that the park is suitable for the research.

Tomioka no.5 park is a 4,728m² - large block park that was built in March 1975(Kanazawa-ku, 2013). West Tomioka area, where the park is located, started to receive residents through

land development in 1956 and large residential area was created in the mid 1970’s. However, 30 years later, with decrease in the number of young people moving to the area, low birth rate and aging trend were rapidly spreading. Having been built through a large residential area development, Tomioka no.5 park became large in size compared to other family parks. In particular, its multi-purpose square had been used as a place for events and community festivals. But, old facilities, thick bushes and leaves due to lack of maintenance, darkened the park and resulted in messy fallen leaves. That is why the park was hardly used by residents except when they had community festivals and events in the park. In particular, even though the park is close to elementary schools and kindergartens, its security and safety became worse and concerns on possibility of safety accident prevented children from using the park. Park regeneration was carried out in March 2010 to resolve aforementioned problems. Fig. 1 highlights the location of the park.

The research was carried out according to the following steps. As it is mentioned in the park selection criteria, the first survey was carried out to identify the change of user recognition of ’park properties’ of Tomioka no.5 park (Table 1). After that, listening research in a form of face-to-face visit/interview was conducted in order to check what residents are asking for; how the administrative part is perceiving the problems of the park; what is the purpose of regeneration and what is the relationship

between the designer’s intention and actual utilization of park properties. Listening research was used for residents who participated in workshops for park regeneration, for the administrators who were in charge, and for the designers who were responsible of regeneration (Table 2).

Next, the second survey was conducted to check how user satisfaction is influenced by what was discovered from the listening research, which are the changes of utilization pattern and spatial composition that made use of park properties, design intention that responds to the needs of residents and the goal of the administrative part (Table 3).

The respondents of the onsite survey were park visitors who used the park before and after the regeneration and the second survey content is as follows; First, in order to find out utilization pattern change before and after regeneration, frequency and the amount of time for using park were surveyed. Second, 13 question items were selected, taking into account purposes of general usage of urban park, spatial characteristics of the selected park and environment near the park in order to check changes in purpose of using the park. In addition, by using drawing maps before and after regeneration, mapping of [frequently using space] was completed. Third, to find out how user satisfaction is influenced by the changes in spatial composition that utilizes park properties, 24 items were prepared. Also, the overall satisfaction was evaluated in 5 steps to verify whether the purpose of design and the goals that reflect residents’ needs are fulfilled. Having been encoded, the questionnaire was analyzed through SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Science) Win 17.0 program to deduce result.

Fig. 2 includes a picture and a drawing map that show changes in spatial composition caused by the regeneration of Tomioka no.5 park. The motivation for park regeneration was identified through listening research of residents, administrators in charge, and designers.

The purpose was as follows; First, To resolve the problems of usage rate decrease induced by degradation and deterioration of facilities due to the lack of quality management. Second, To fulfill the regeneration goal set forth by the administrative part including development of barrier free facilities for older people and complete improvement of rest areas. Third, To meet the needs of residents by improving the image of the park as a bright park where children can safely play and to resolve caused by1)*Firmiana simplexes.

Details of changes in spatial composition through regeneration based on the aforementioned motivation were checked. First, it was confirmed that new facilities were built after having demolished all theexisting spatial components at the center of the park including pagolas, benches, and shrubs except some trees. With the purpose of strengthening the function as a rest area for eating, resting, and chatting, new facilities including 2 table benches and 2 pagolas were established. Other new facilities include 7 health exercise apparatuses aiming to enhance health of the old, and a flower bed aiming to encourage residents’ voluntary management of the park as well as to improve the image of the park. To encourage more active flower bed management and for convenience of users, a drinking fountain was moved to the center area from the westside square. Additionally, the height of boundary stones for the flower bed was aligned to 38cm making it more comfortable for people throughout all age. This can be interpreted that regeneration highlighted on making all the spatial components at the center usable for resting area when community festivals and events are held. In an attempt to resolve the issue of the falling leaves, 11 out of 15 Firmiana simplexes were cut down and 4 , located at the eastside square, were preserved for hanging Lotus lanterns at Bon Festival every summer. All other trees were maintained. Trees were pruned to give better view inside at the center. It was also discovered that mostly shrubs in the center and those near the west and east entrances were cut down to secure better sight at the park entrances. All the existing playground equipments were replaced by new ones. It was also confirmed that swings and slides were differently arranged to lessen the pressure on the inside view from the west entrance. Approach to each entrance except the stair entrance on the north side, undertook regeneration focusing on barrier free features such as leveling the roads and approaches, securing space for wheelchairs, and changing the covering on the pedestrian walkways. The square was regenerated in a way that preserves and utilizes its existing space as much as possible and also in a way that does not negatively influence community festivals and events. To be specific, the eastside square was regenerated while preserving the traffic line of *Bon Festival²⁾dance which is the biggest summer community festival. While the overall size of the square became smaller than the pre-regeneration level, the square regeneration was the pre-regeneration level, the square regeneration was carried out in a way that increases usable space for community festivals and events and in a way that can resolve the problem of reduced green land due to cutting down of many shrubs and 11 Firmiana simplexes by installing benches on the grass after planting it at the outer side of the square.

It is concluded from these findings that park regeneration was promoted putting its priority on enhancing usage and convenience when holding [community festivals and events] which is strongly recognized as the ’properties’ of the Tomioka no.5 park. With such priority, the park regeneration was implemented through maintenance and improvement of the central area of the park that is close to the square and through preserving and utilizing [multi- purpose square]. To be specific, it can be concluded that the regeneration intended to enhance spatial functionality of the park by concentratingresting, exercise and exchange functions at the designated center area. It also intended to secure usable area by adding new spatial components through turfing grass at the exterior of the square while maintaining the size of the multi-purpose square. It can be also deduced that the regeneration induced promotion of utilization and quality enhancement of resting areas in the square by combining benches, which are the basic spatial component for amenities, with grass, which is a natural component.

The first survey was conducted to identify changes in recognition of users for park properties before and after park regeneration and to select a target park for survey (Table 4). According to the result of a comparison analysis of what the park users recognize as a strength and valuable characteristics of the park before and after regeneration, the following 5 items; [large multi-purpose square], [safe environment where children can play], [walking route and traffic line], [Community festivals and events], and [Abundant nature] gained majority responses. In particular, after converting them into scores, it was discovered that [community festivals and events] and [large size multi-purpose square] are strongly perceived as park properties . The result for studying change of recognition before and after park regeneration confirmed that 5 items including [safe environment for children to play], [various health exercise apparatuses] , [walking route and traffic line], [bright park with open view], [sufficient resting facilities] are recognized as park properties more than　pre-regeneration level. Out of 5 items that received more than 50% of responses, 3 items including [large size multi-purpose square], [community festivals and events], [abundant nature] did not show much difference in recognition of the respondents, meaning that users recognized these three items as park properties both before and after the park regeneration.

Based on aforementioned findings, it can be inferred that what park users recognize as the valuable properties of the Tomioka no.5 park are active communication/exchanges among residents through various events and the park square

that can serve as a multi-purpose space including walking, exercising, festivals and events. As it is mentioned in 3-1, it was implied that what users are recognizing as new park properties after regeneration include attributes that make park usable not only for special events but also for everyday activities and the fact that the park is perceived as a bright park where children can safely play by installing table benches and health exercise apparatuses, developing barrier free facilities near the entrance, and establishing a flower bed and maintaining plantings.

The second survey was conducted on the park users who visited the park both before and after regeneration in order to identify utilization pattern change caused by regeneration. Five steps evaluation method was chosen to find out frequency and time for park use before and after regeneration and the average from the five-step evaluation was compared through a t-test. [Usage frequency] and [usage time] showed significant difference before and after regeneration (Fig. 3). This result shows that the park is being used more frequently and for longer time period compared to the pre-regeneration level. Inother words, it can be inferred that the changes in spatial composition through regeneration are having a positive impact on promoting the use of the park.

Next, to identify changes in the purpose of using the park after regeneration, purpose of using park before and after regeneration was compared and analyzed through a simple calculation method (Fig. 4). [Taking a walk] and [Cherry blossom viewing], which were the main purpose of using the park before regeneration, did not show much change. However, people’s purpose to use the park including [exercising and sports], [resting] [talking with friends] [eating] [attending events] and [volunteer work in the park] are reinforced strongly compared to pre-regeneration level.

It can be deduced from these findings that expansion of the role of the park and the scope of park utilization are attributable to the establishment of health exercise apparatuses, pagolas, table benches, and the flower bed at the center, as well as the opening of various events through the preservation and utilization of the square.

Then, in order to find out the changes of space used in the park caused by regeneration, a frequently used place before and after park regeneration was surveyd and compared for analysis. (Table 5, Fig. 5). The result shows that there is not much change in [playground equipment], [planting], and [sandy field] before and after park regeneration. However, compared to the pre-regenerational level, the number of users of [westside

square], [Eastside square], [bench], [Central (table bench)], [flower bed], and [health exercise apparatus] soared as well as the number of mapping.

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that park usage pattern has changed as a result of regeneration with its design intention on enhancing convenience in community festivals and events. This included utilizing the square as much as possible and improving aged facilities by installing new ones, improving the park image through flower bed establishment and inducing voluntary management of residents.

Through these findings it was inferred that the unique value of its space and usage of the park was maintained while park usage was promoted and became manifold by park regeneration. This followed a clear design intention that incorporated the needs of residents and the goal of administrative part through resident workshops together with preservation and utilization of the multi-purpose square where various events, which are perceived as a important component of Tomioka no.5 park, are held.

24 items for evaluation based on residents needs, task of administrative part that are discovered through Listening research, preservation and utilization of park properties and consequent design intention were used to show how they influenced user satisfaction. Survey was conducted with the precondition of “being compared to the pre-regeneration level” for the all of the research items and on the users who used the park before and after the regeneration. First, 5 steps were taken for each item and then average score was calculated(Table 6). As a result, all the items in regards to [park usage], [maintenance of facilities], [preservation of green tract of the land], [improving the image of park], [Use of community festivals and events], [the value of the park], [The space and the use of center of the park], [space near the benches and the use of it], [user satisfaction for park] gained more than an average of 3.5 points. In particular all items in regard to [preservation of green tract of the land ], [improving the image of park], [Use of community festivals and events], [user satisfaction for park] received more than an average of 4.0 points. However, items such as [improving the problems of fallen leaves] gained less than an average of 3.0 points.

Next, the correlation between the 24 evaluation items and user satisfaction was analyzed through SPSS bivariate correlation analysis in order to identify the influence that each evaluation item has on user satisfaction of the park (Table 7). As a result, user satisfaction for the park and the items including [park usage], [preservation of green tract of the land ], [improving the image of park], [Use of community festivals and events], [the value of the park], and [The space and the use of center of the park] showed significantly positive correlations of 1% with park visitors’ satisfaction. In particular, among many sub items of [park image improvement], [Do you feel safe using park as it became brighter?] and [Do you enjoy the park through various events] under the item [use of community festivals and events] and [is it more convenient joining community festival and events compared to pre-regeneration period?] under the item [The space and the use of center of the park] were found to have strong positive correlations with user’s satisfaction.

It can be induced through these findings that improving aged playground equipments, benches and pagolas and establishing a flower bed, health exercise apparatuses, table benches, and barrier free equipments at the entrances for the old resolved problems of usage reduction and the safety issues due to degradation of the park followed by aging and lack of management and helped improve park image as bright and safe park, which in turn resulted in high score and high satisfaction on each item. Not only that, preservation and utilization of park properties that the original park already had influenced high level satisfaction of the users thanks to the regeneration that utilized rich natural characteristics by preserving all the trees except Firmiana simplexes, installation of a flower bed, grass planting of space adjacent to the square, and preservation of the size of the multi-purpose square in a way that does not interfere with community festivals and event. Also, all the items under [The space and the use of center of the park] item scored more than 3.5 points in evaluation and it is believed to have a positive correlation of 1% with user satisfaction. These findings can be interpreted that in a park with relatively small in size can have sufficient user satisfaction by enhancing variety of park usage patterns and convenience of using the park through promoting spatial function of the park in a way that concentrates various spatial components in the designated area. However, despite cutting down 11 Fimiana simplexes out of total 15, [improvement in solving falling leaf problems] scored less than 3.0 points, which shows that the problem cannot be solved only by reducing the number of the trees. It was inferred that to respond to the problem, it is important to have continuous and systematic management of the green land and trees in the park through fostering voluntary management by volunteer groups that consist of residents such as Voluntary Group in park.

Therefore, the purpose of this research on Tomioka no.5 park in Yokohama city in Japan is to propose direction of Korea’s future urban park regeneration plan by identifying relationship between utilization of park properties and user satisfaction through surveys on how park users’ utilization pattern and their satisfaction are influenced by the changes in spatial composition caused by park regeneration that utilizes park properties.

The results of this research can be summarized as follows; First, It can be said that park regeneration that preserves and utilizes spatial composition and utilization pattern that are strongly perceived as park properties contribute to the high

level of satisfaction and positive evaluation while strengthening the effect of the regeneration. More attention was placed on the importance of developing a new research method to identify properties of the existing park based on the opinions of park users. This study analyzes the effects and influence of a park regeneration method that utilizes and preserves park properties after identifying them through studying user’s point of view. In this respect, in the face of increasingly difficult environment for establishing new urban park due to hardship in securing necessary space and funds, the research can help propose a future direction for park regeneration in Korea, which is expected to be

promoted in full gear.

Second, Clarifying design purpose after identifying the needs of residents through resident workshops and task for an administrative part in regards to park regeneration is essential

step for effectively enhancing user satisfaction through park regeneration. In particular, it has many implications to Korea that citizen’s participation is active in regards to promoting an urban park rehabilitation project including a park regeneration project. It can be concluded that conducting a user satisfaction survey by creating evaluation items based on the findings in regards to the needs of the residents, the task for the park that an administrative part has, and the design intention that reflects the needs and the task has a potential as an evaluation method to verify effectiveness of a park regeneration project.

The research reviewed a regeneration project for future planning by identifying how utilization pattern is influenced by changes in spatial components through park regeneration. It can be said that in order to find out how useful a park regeneration project is to revitalize a region that is likely to be deteriorated due to low birth rate and aging trend, it is necessary to conduct further research on the revitalization of a region that identifies how a park regeneration project improved the living environment of the region and that reviews how the changes in spatial components and utilization pattern of a park revitalized the regional community. Accordingly, further research will be necessary to thoroughly evaluate influence that park regeneration has on the region in terms of environmental, economic and social aspect based on case studies of park regeneration projects with various scale.