Sendai City / Redevelopment of Kotodai Park (Aoba Ward) Draft basic plan formulated, first stage of construction is temporary plaza
Completed image of the redevelopment (from Kotodai Park redevelopment discussion meeting materials)
The city of Sendai compiled a draft basic plan for the redevelopment of Kotodai Park (Aoba Ward), which is adjacent to the city/prefectural government offices and the national joint government office, and presented it at a social gathering for academics held on January 31. The park, which consists of three plazas, will be redeveloped in stages, and the first stage will be put into service in fiscal 2028, along with the first stage of the new city hall. We will create a space suitable for Sendai, the city of forests, while taking into consideration the linkage with the new government building and the redevelopment of Jozenji-dori Street. Consideration has been given to the layout of facilities that support civic activities, expansion of functions, and design with a sense of openness. Area management and the utilization of Park-PFI (Public Offering Installation Management System) are also being considered.
Kotodai Park is located at Honcho 3-9-2 and others. It consists of "Ikoi no Hiroba", which is adjacent to the joint government building and has the largest site area, "Citizen's Square" in front of the city hall, and "History Square" adjacent to the Miyagi Prefectural Assembly Office. The total area will be 26,887 square meters.
The layout and functions of the stage, plants, lighting, sculptures, etc. in the plaza will be fundamentally reviewed. The 150,000-square-meter Ikoi-no-Hiroba will be renovated so that it can be used for music events, etc., while facing the central axis of the outdoor stage toward the "Peace Prayer Statue," which is the starting point of the park space. The civic plaza opposite the city hall will be designated as a ``bustling plaza'' and will have the function of being able to hold various large and small events.
Kotodai Park is used about 270 days a year as an event venue. Since the redevelopment will be a long-term project, the first step will be to complete the temporary construction work to replace the citizen's plaza in Ikoi no plaza by the end of fiscal 2024. The 2023 fiscal year will be devoted to the design period. After the completion of the temporary plaza, it will be redeveloped into a lively plaza and a tairai plaza (the current historical plaza) over the course of three years. The construction of Ikoi no Hiroba will be in step with the second phase construction of the new city hall, which will begin in fiscal 2028, with the aim of completing it within fiscal 2030.
