JAKARTA - A "lockman" in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan is recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest park in the world, measuring only 0.24 square meters with room for one person to sit on a wooden chair on a rock.
Located in the corner of the settlement area in Nagaizumi City, the park consists of elevated small square bricks, small plants beside the bench, and two stone monuments including one with symbolic flower carvings of the city.
The park has been dubbed by local residents as "the smallest park in the world" and is remembered as a place of rest for more than 30 years, before being officially recognized by Guinness in December, quoted from Kyodo News May 1.
About 300 meters from the city hall, the park was built in 1988 using the remaining land for road construction.
A former city official proposed the idea of building a small park after being inspired by Mill Ends Park in Oregon, the previous record holder with an area of 0.29 square meters.
With local support, the city decided to challenge a world record in 2023. For costs related to the Guinness World Records registration, the city earned around 2.5 million yen ($18,000), through its budget, online fundraising and private sector donations.
The city then hired a surveyor to measure land and submit certificates that proved the park had existed for more than five years. The space is also categorized from the road to a garden.
Since getting Guinness's confession, the park has become a popular tourist attraction, attracting visitors from outside Shizuoka.
SEE ALSO:
"We hope this park will be an opportunity to promote our city," said Shuji Koyama of the city's construction management division.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
