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The Birth of Park 1

However, the birth of Taipei’s park was mainly because Taipei was the center of modernization
development and construction at the time. Along with the trend of Meiji Restoration, the
contemporary western urban parks movements were brought to government’s attention.
Japanese government gradually valued the parks and green spaces installation and therefore set
a norm for the urban planning of Taipei City and the development of parks and green spaces.

“Urban Revision” Is the Cornerstone of Nowadays’ Taipei City Parks and
Green Spaces System

Parks in Taiwan were not planned and built until the Japanese colonization. In the beginning,
it was owing to the outspread of anti-Japanese forces in Taiwan. On top of that, the urge to
improve narrow city streets, poor public hygiene and old sewage leaded to the introduction of
western urban planning concept. Taipei City published “Taipei urban revision plan” in 1905
and “Great Taipei Urban Plan” in 1932. The urban revision in Taipei was carried out within the
area of old Taipei west town to the Songshan district. Approximately, 17 of large designated
parks were planned. (About 450 hectares). In addition, four boulevards were also planned to
connect all these parks and the Taiwan Shrine (The Grand Hotel nowadays).

Although the constructions were not fully completed before Japanese retreating, it is not
difficult to see those plans have great influence to the current Taipei parks and green spaces
system. These revision plans had preserve great land for a number of large parks and open
spaces that serve the citizens presently.

Aerial view on “Taipei City Revision plan”.
Source: National Taiwan University Library Collection.
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