Yangcheon-gu Presents Vision for Children's Parks Through Playground Master Plan Establishment

[Seoul District News] Yangcheon-gu Implements Vision 'Playgrounds, Our Connection' to Establish Local Hub Spaces for Playground Communication; Renovates 11 Playgrounds This Year as 'Village Play Spaces for All Generations'; Conducts 'Dream Playground Program' at 10 Children's Parks with Play Experts and Volunteer Play Friends... Dongdaemun-gu Revamps Website for Resident Communication... Songpa-gu Launches Community Project 'Neighbor Making (Village Garden Sector)' Contest

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has presented the vision of "Yangcheon Playgrounds, Our Connecting Link" through the establishment of a basic playground plan and has embarked on realizing a "Play Republic for All."

Previously, aiming to become a "Child-Friendly City Yangcheon," the district developed 18 neighborhood children's parks over the past four years through the "One Creative Playground per Neighborhood" project, creating spaces to enhance children's adventurous spirit and creativity.

The newly established basic playground plan embodies the district's strong will to comfort residents weary from COVID-19 and revitalize disrupted social communication by implementing playgrounds as play spaces for all and as "Yangcheon's connecting link."

□ Evolving Yangcheon-Style Playgrounds through Six Detailed Strategies

Through the "Yangcheon-gu Basic Playground Plan," the district has formulated six detailed strategies incorporating the values of ▲play rights equity ▲playfulness ▲social inclusion ▲community ▲sustainability to develop 74 playgrounds in the area as village-level hub spaces.

First, "Playgrounds Considering Village Characteristics" create unique spaces by taking into account the area's locational features and children's age-specific mobility and play tendencies. "Playgrounds with Rational Renovation Standards" determine renovation criteria based on the aging of facilities to prevent disparities between playgrounds and ensure equity in play rights. "Playgrounds for All Generations to Gather" serve as village hub open spaces.

"Playgrounds Encouraging Creative Play and Challenges" implement designs that develop adventurousness by utilizing terrain and natural materials. "Playgrounds Where Disabled and Non-Disabled Children Play Together" aim for universal design and barrier-free integrated playgrounds for everyone. "Eco-Friendly Zero-Energy Playgrounds" achieve energy self-sufficiency by using carbon-neutral, eco-friendly materials based on 130,000㎡ of green space (playground area).

□ Continued Yangcheon-gu Playground Renovations in 2022

This year, the district is promoting renovations of 11 playgrounds including Kkotdongsan, Gyeongin, Dangok, Gangwol indoor and outdoor playgrounds, Adong, Kkotsaseum, Singi, Araetmal, and Eunhaengjeong Children's Parks, securing a budget of 2.7 billion KRW from national and city funds.

In particular, Gangwol Children's Park will be developed as an integrated indoor and outdoor playground so children can play freely regardless of weather. Adong Children's Park will actively reflect excellent cases through an integrated playground design contest. Additionally, Gyeongin Children's Park is expected to create a refreshing landscape by installing a ground fountain in connection with the Sinwol 3-dong urban regeneration project.

□ Leading Yangcheon-gu Play Activity Programs

Since 2019, the district has pursued diversity in play culture through the "Dream Playground Play Activity Program." Started alongside the creation of "One Dream Playground per Neighborhood," the program allows children to experience traditional games, adventure play, treasure hunts, music playgrounds, and making their own play equipment with expert playground activists, contributing to the development of children's thinking and creativity.

Last year, under strict quarantine rules, about 300 face-to-face and non-face-to-face play programs were operated, allowing approximately 12,000 residents to enjoy small joys and vitality in daily life.

This year, in addition to existing playgrounds operating the program (Mujigae, Taeyang, 2nd Urban Agriculture Park Adventure Playground, Haneulmaru, Saettuk, Seyang), four more suitable sites will be added to provide more residents with diverse play experiences.

Also, related to the creation of a barrier-free forest trail in Jiyangsan Gyenam Neighborhood Park, a "Mission Exploration Program" using the surrounding terrain, landmarks, and a smart app is being prepared. In the future, mission exploration courses reflecting the characteristics of each location will be conducted in five major axis parks including Pari Park.

Furthermore, the district plans to establish "Yangcheon-style Play Activity Governance" by creating a new "Play Friends" category in the park volunteer platform "Friends of the Park," training volunteers, and deploying them in creative playground play activity programs.

For detailed information regarding the Yangcheon-gu Basic Playground Plan, inquiries can be made to the Parks and Greenery Division.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "Through Yangcheon-gu's distinctive playgrounds, I want to create a connecting link where everyone can gather and communicate," adding, "We will do our best to become a leading district in play policy based on playground renovations that connect the environment, society, and people."

Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol) has completely revamped its website, a communication channel with residents, into a user-centered platform and has started its operation.

The district had revamped its website in 2009, but due to the rapidly changing mobile environment, there were limitations in service provision, causing inconvenience.

Accordingly, the district aimed to strengthen communication with residents and provide various online services in line with the spread of non-face-to-face culture due to COVID-19 by rebuilding the website into a user-centered platform applying the latest IT technologies such as responsive web design and a flexible structure that allows easy addition and modification of programs.

The revamp includes ▲consolidating 32 individually operated websites into 14 ▲establishing a new "Dongdaemun News" menu to strengthen promotional functions by linking with SNS data ▲renewing the cultural tourism site with VR tours of tourist attractions and additional themed tourism courses ▲building a one-stop reservation portal system that handles everything from application to payment for education registration ▲introducing an online ticket issuance system for the civil service office ▲implementing an AI-based chatbot service capable of 24-hour civil service response, among others.

In particular, with this revamp, all content can be accessed without functional restrictions on various devices such as PCs, mobiles, and tablets, which is expected to resolve the inconveniences previously raised.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, stated, "I hope the revamped website will become an open communication channel that residents can use more conveniently, and we will continue to strive to strengthen communication channels with residents."

Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Sung-soo) is recruiting groups and organizations to participate in the "Neighbor-Making Contest Project" from February 16 to February 18.

The "Neighbor-Making Contest Project" is a project where residents directly plan, propose, and execute projects needed in the village to revitalize the community. This contest project is conducted in the "Village Garden Sector" to spread village garden culture and improve urban aesthetics.

Park Sung-soo, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "Through activities cultivating village gardens in the bleak city center, we can lead community revitalization," adding, "I hope the Neighbor-Making Contest Project will be an opportunity for residents to cultivate their villages themselves, take pride, and together create a better Songpa."

The district will select a total of 27 projects and support up to 1.5 million KRW per project. Selected projects will carry out various activities such as seasonal guerrilla gardening in village alleys, creating and managing leftover and neglected village spaces, and cultivating village vegetable gardens until October this year.

Resident groups or organizations with 15 or more members residing or based in Songpa-gu can apply. The final selection results will be announced on the Songpa-gu website in March after review and deliberation.

The application period is until February 18, and applications can be submitted by visiting each neighborhood community center or by emailing the person in charge of the respective neighborhood.

For more details and application forms, visit Songpa-gu Office, each neighborhood community center, or the Songpa-gu Village Autonomy Center website. Phone inquiries are also available at the Songpa-gu Office Autonomous Administration Division and the respective neighborhood community centers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.