The neighborhood holds a significant role in urban settings as it serves as a crucial connection between the city and its inhabitants. It is considered one of the smallest units within the traditional structure of Iranian cities, encompassing physical, social, and even ethnic aspects. Through offering essential daily services and establishing distinct symbols and characteristics, each neighborhood fosters a sense of belonging among its residents. This bond is so strong that individuals are often recognized by the name of their neighborhood. The concept of the local community can be explored and evaluated from three different perspectives: the social concept, the legal-economic concept, and the geographic-regional concept (Abdullahi et al., 1385: 11).
        Sustainable development is one of the theories and perspectives that aim to promote the concept of the local community. Over the past two decades, it has emerged as a new model, challenging the prevailing scientific views and practical policies worldwide. This approach is a response to the unsustainable nature of development, which fails to cater to the needs of all residents, both in the present and for future generations (Sarafi, 2010: 3).
       The development of sustainable neighborhoods ensures that small urban communities can effectively utilize natural, human, and ecological resources. This guarantees that both current and future members of the community can enjoy optimal levels of health and well-being, a desirable quality of life, security, and a harmonious integration between the environment and the dynamic human and economic activities within the neighborhood (Cline, 1995:4).
 
Historical Gardens and garden-districts of Iran
        The current research focuses on distinguishing between the historical neighborhoods of a city and introduces the concept of garden-districts. These garden-districts are defined as neighborhoods whose formation, development, and continuity are directly influenced by the presence of gardens. Within these neighborhoods, the gardens have a profound impact on various aspects such as spatial understanding, work patterns, social division of labor, and knowledge transfer across generations, and the residents' overall perspective on mental and physical well-being. This influence is particularly evident in the residents' clothing, language, beliefs, and legends. The garden-districts have the potential to play a crucial role in environmental, sociocultural, economic, technological, policy, and legislative development. They are integral to achieving sustainable development and can be revitalized through comprehensive and inclusive management. By doing so, they can once again contribute to strengthening the identity and sense of belonging among neighbors and their connection to the living environment.
 
The proposed plan for revitalizing the garden-district of Kodivar in Semnan, based on the patterns explained in the basics of sustainable development
To begin the revitalization process, it is crucial to acknowledge the internal and dependent capabilities of the designated area. This can be achieved through research, observation, inquiry, monitoring, analysis, and categorization of the gathered data. The next step involves determining the appropriate approach and evaluating it against established theories, guidelines, and criteria. This comparison should also include similar plans to select the most effective proposals, which will then be put to a vote. Finally, a comprehensive management plan must be developed, which includes ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Further details on this step will be discussed below.
    In this section, an analysis of the gardens in the Kodivar neighborhood in Semnan was conducted, taking into account observations and relevant studies. The primary internal capacities of these gardens were identified, and a comprehensive approach was adopted to recognize their urban significance. Consequently, a proposed plan for the rejuvenation of these gardens was put forth, considering their crucial role in promoting environmental, economic, and social aspects. These gardens serve as a pivotal factor in advancing the objectives of urban sustainable development.
 
The first step: Observation of the neighborhood community, urban structure, historical buildings, and gardens of Kodivar neighborhood in Semnan
Kodivar is among the eight historical neighborhoods that comprise the present-day city of Semnan. Its functional structure is composed of various architectural components, with residential areas and houses, a mosque, Tekiya, Hosseiniyeh, Fatemiyeh and Imamzadeh being the primary elements. Additionally, the neighborhood features bazaars, a Therm, reservoir, khut, pool, and water distribution runnels, as well as a tower and rampart, passages, and alleys.
       The historical gardens in the Kodivar neighborhood of Semnan were established due to the flat topography and their suitability for hot and arid climates. Surrounding the shade garden are two rows of trees, with a blue stream flowing through them. Moving further inwards, the plots are separated by soil piles, each designated for cultivating a specific crop. Each garden receives its own allocation of water and is irrigated at specific times during the day. The most significant trees and plants in these gardens include mulberry trees, figs, pomegranates, grapes, eggplants, tomatoes, and beans. Additionally, every garden features an adobe room or a terrace where the gardener can rest, known as "kieka" or a small house in the Semnani dialect.
        The social capital of Semnan's Kodivar neighborhood has experienced a decline over the past two decades due to the emergence of new neighborhoods in Semnan. The changing mindset of the farmer and worker population in Semnan has resulted in a shift towards consumerism and a preference for new jobs. Consequently, the personal and social well-being in Kodivar neighborhood has suffered, leading to the migration of original residents to other neighborhoods. Additionally, the influx of residents from other cities, particularly those with agricultural and labor professions from northern Iran, has contributed to a relative cultural disharmony in this neighborhood. The lack of communal spaces and gathering spots further exacerbates the situation, forcing residents to seek such spaces in other neighborhoods. This combination of cultural heterogeneity, population instability, and a lack of community spaces has perpetuated the population heterogeneity in Kodivar neighborhood.
       Family and ethnic roots shape values, traditions, customs, social norms, food, drink, clothing, and handicrafts. However, these aspects are not integrated into the concept of neighborhood community. National institutions, encompassing social, economic, political, and religious domains, lack a local council structure. Consequently, the social distance between individuals and these institutions in the neighborhood is widening with each passing day. Based on conducted interviews, people of various age groups express low levels of satisfaction and comfort. Different traditional classes harbor distrust towards government institutions and exhibit pessimism and suffering regarding their policy and decision-making processes.
In terms of economy and production, traditional resources such as handicrafts and agriculture, along with the associated knowledge and techniques, are on the decline and gradually fading into oblivion.
 
The second step: identifying the treatment method and measuring it
The aim of this study is to enhance the consciousness of the inhabitants of Kodivar's historic district by rejuvenating the environment and restructuring the social fabric. This will be achieved by recognizing the hidden values of the area and encouraging active participation in the revitalization process, leading to the permanent preservation of the neighborhood. Furthermore, this initiative seeks to address social issues such as alienation, abnormality, and anomy by promoting logical and reasonable social actions against such phenomena. Additionally, the project aims to improve the conceptual quality of the space by revitalizing its identity based on architectural monuments and urban historical signs. This will help combat structural disintegration and educational damage to the environment, particularly for children, and improve the use of space for educational and social purposes.
       Based on the specific criteria determined in the sustainable development section, which includes environmental, social, economic, and educational aspects, with a focus on the social aspect and comprehensiveness in the concept and body, it is recommended to study similar plans for the following uses and changes:

Transforming historical gardens into gardens, which can serve as the main pillar for creating environmental infrastructure.
Converting historical gardens into green spaces for recreation.
Repurposing historical gardens as the center of the neighborhood.
Transforming historical gardens into training centers and workshops for traditional and home jobs.
Converting historical gardens into local bazaars for trading products.
Repurposing historical gardens as a playground for Childern.
Transforming historical gardens into agricultural tourism centers.
Converting historical gardens into museums and research institutes for historical gardens.

 
The third step: Design a comprehensive management plan:
The comprehensive management plan for the revitalization of the gardens of Kodivar Semnan determines the following points:
       Goals and values include vision and strategy, methods, resources and supply, protection and maintenance, target community, tourism plan, and process evaluation and control.