What Made Seongdong-gu Children's Playground a Paradise?

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Creates Exciting Playgrounds Fostering Adventure and Creativity at Songjeongjebang-gil and Dalmaji Park... Eunpyeong-gu Invites to Traditional Hand Rice Planting and Dano Festival

Children playing at Dalmaji Park

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu has created children's playgrounds at Songjeong Embankment Road and Dalmaji Park, establishing new spaces where children can freely enjoy themselves throughout the mountains and riversides.

The 'Songjeong Embankment Road Children's Imagination Yard,' opened this Children's Day, was developed on a 630㎡ site at 73-457 Songjeong-dong. Making full use of the underutilized sloped terrain of the Songjeong embankment, play areas were installed, including a nest-shaped slide for exciting rides, a net play structure for climbing up and down, an adventure facility for climbing while holding ropes, and stepping stones.

Along with a sand playground favored by children, pergolas, benches, and sitting walls were installed, and safety was enhanced with multipurpose CCTV and park lighting. The playground area preserves the existing ginkgo trees and features flowering trees such as mountain azaleas and spiraea, creating a space where nature and the playground harmonize. Connected to the Jungnangcheon embankment walking trail, it offers excellent accessibility, receiving great responses not only from Songjeong-dong residents but also from visitors from nearby areas.

The playground within Dalmaji Park, which offers views of the Han River, has also been newly renovated. To stimulate children's adventurous spirit and creativity, a slide was created using the mounding terrain, and various play facilities popular with children were installed, including a trampoline for energetic jumping, fun-filled swings, and a combination play structure.

Nearby, rest areas and exercise equipment for residents have been refurbished, transforming the space into a safe and pleasant environment that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy.

Previously, the district established various children's play spaces, including the 'Haengdang-dong Children's Dream Park' in 2020, which was designed to weave children's dreams and imagination, followed by 'Eungsam Children's Park' in Eungbong-dong last year, and the 'Dodam Dodam Dream Playground' near the district office.

Having recently received the 'Advanced Level Certification for Child-Friendly Cities' from UNICEF this month, the district plans to actively create more attractions for children’s right to play, leveraging its numerous natural and scenic spots such as Cheonggyecheon, Jungnangcheon, the Han River, Maebongsan, Eungbongsan, and Seoul Forest.

Mr. Kim, a resident of Oksu-dong, said, “Nowadays, I no longer have to go far to find places to play with my children. After Seoul Forest and the Han River, we now visit the nearby Dalmaji Park to hike and enjoy views of the Han River. This place is no less than any other playground, and we enjoy relaxing here with our family.”

Eunpyeong-gu will hold a rice planting event with residents at 10 a.m. on the 24th at Hyangnim Urban Agriculture Experience Center to welcome the season of abundant sunlight and growth.

The 'Rice Planting Event' is hosted by Eunpyeong-gu and organized by the entrusted operator 'S&Y Rural-Urban Sharing Community.'

Through rice planting in the eco-friendly no-till paddy fields at Hyangnim Urban Agriculture Experience Center and experiencing the Dano cultural festival, the event aims to awaken the importance of sharing, consideration, and community?the fundamental values of urban agriculture?and to raise awareness of ecological values and traditional customs.

Participants can experience traditional hand rice planting accompanied by farmers' music and taste refreshments made from garden crops. Ahead of Dano, they can also try seasonal customs such as washing hair with iris water and pounding rice cakes. Various other experiences are available, including making natural ointments and natural beeswax wraps using honey harvested from the apiary within the Hyangnim Urban Agriculture Experience Center.

Following the center’s five no’s (no chemical fertilizers, no synthetic pesticides, no vinyl mulching, no trash, no private vehicles), visitors are encouraged to use public transportation to enjoy the festival.

The event is open to all local residents. Some experience programs require prior registration through the Eunpyeong-gu Urban Agriculture Support Center website. For more details, contact the Eunpyeong-gu Office Park and Greenery Division.

A district official stated, “Hyangnim Urban Agriculture Experience Center, famous as an urban agriculture park in Seoul, will become a pleasant healing place, and we will strive to make it an urban agriculture experience center that gets closer to residents through various urban agriculture activities.”

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