60% of municipal park land has been “undeveloped” for more than 20 years, with most not considering revising it – Board of Audit

The Board of Audit investigated unused park land owned by local governments across the country and found on the 14th that about 65.1% of the area had not been maintained for more than 20 years after being acquired. It was also found that in most cases, no consideration had been given to continuing or discontinuing the business. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued an administrative notice in August asking local governments to consider future business continuity and report the results.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set guidelines for urban planning, and states that it is desirable to aim for the completion of development of parks and other facilities in 20 years, and to consider reconsidering projects that have not been carried out for a long time.

The inspection agency investigated a total of 2.81 million square meters of unused park land owned by 42 business entities in 10 prefectures as of the end of fiscal 2024. As a result, a total of 1.83 million square meters owned by 14 business entities had been vacant land for more than 20 years. Of this, a total of 1.29 million square meters owned by nine project entities, including Kobe City, had not been considered as to whether to continue or cancel the project.

The cause is said to be that local government budgets are limited and park development has not progressed. Regarding unused park land, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism says, ``We will work with local governments to open it up to the public as soon as possible.''