A Study on Open Gardens in Suburban Residential Areas Focusing on the Process of Resident-Led Commoning

This study examines the “Tokotoko Garden” initiative in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, to clarify the formation of resident-led commoning in suburban residential areas. Through an analysis of administrative frameworks, resident activities, a questionnaire survey, and a comprehensive survey of over 100 registered gardens, the study explores how private gardens function as social infrastructure. The findings demonstrate that commoning is not a fixed condition defined by legal status, but a dynamic social practice in which residents reinterpret private property through spatial implementation and recognition by others, often exceeding formal spatial boundaries.