Incheon City Expands 'Green Path Project' Including Climate-Responsive Urban Forest Creation with 20.1 Billion KRW Investment

Incheon City announced on the 21st that it will expand the 'Green Path Project' this year by investing a total project cost of 20.18 billion KRW (including 5.9 billion KRW of city funds), which includes the creation of urban wind path forests, climate-responsive urban forests, child-safe green forests, life-friendly forests, and Incheon-specialized streets.

The urban wind path forest is a project designed to lower urban temperatures and discharge polluted air such as fine dust by spreading fresh and clean air from forests in and around the city to the urban area. By December this year, green axes including central divider flower beds and street green belts (strip green spaces) will be created at nine locations such as Jemullyang-ro in Jung-gu to circulate clean air within the city.

Urban Wind Path Forest created on the Suin Line idle land in Michuhol-gu, Incheon [Photo provided by Incheon City]

In addition, climate-responsive urban forests will be established around areas where fine dust is mainly generated, such as roads and industrial complexes, to block and reduce fine dust and improve air quality. Eleven hectares across nine locations, including Yonghyeon-Hakik 2-1 buffer green space in Michuhol-gu, Geomdan General Industrial Complex in Seo-gu, and Namdong National Industrial Complex in Namdong-gu, will be developed by December.

The child-safe green forest project aims to create safe and pleasant routes for children to go to and from school by establishing street green spaces in school zones and along sidewalks. Three locations covering 3.4 hectares, including Gahyeon Elementary School in Seo-gu, will be developed by July.

Life-friendly forests, which are indoor gardens created in multi-use facilities with high foot traffic such as public offices and libraries, were first established last year at Juan and Michuhol libraries. This year, indoor green resting spaces will be created at the Incheon National Safety Experience Center in Luwon City, Seo-gu Cultural Center, and Geomam Library to provide comfortable indoor green spaces for residents in the old downtown area.

The city also plans to create distinctive tree-lined streets representing Incheon on 24 routes across nine districts, including Dongsan-ro in Dong-gu, to reduce dust emitted from vehicles. By August this year, hazardous street trees will be surveyed on 133 routes, including Chamoejeon-ro in Jung-gu.

Choi Dosu, Director of the Urban Balance Bureau of Incheon City, said, "Three locations in Incheon, including the Suin Line urban wind path forest, were selected among 11 exemplary urban forests nationwide certified by the Korea Forest Service last year." He added, "We will continue to create citizen-experienced urban forests in living areas that improve heat waves and urban heat island climate conditions while providing psychological stability and visual richness."

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