Barrier-Free Urban Forest for Transportation-Vulnerable Created in Pohang Railway Forest Uhyeon District

A New 650-Meter Barrier-Free Urban Forest Completed in Pohang Railway Forest's Uhyeon District
Creating a Safe Urban Forest Environment...
Enhanced Accessibility for Wheelchair and Stroller Users

Pohang City has created the 'Uhyeon Barrier-Free Urban Forest' along an approximately 650-meter section of the Pohang Railway Forest in the Uhyeon District, ensuring that both transportation-vulnerable individuals and all citizens can use the area safely and comfortably.

Uhyeon Barrier-Free Urban Forest.

This project was undertaken to establish an environment where all citizens, including transportation-vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, can safely and comfortably enjoy the urban forest, thereby enhancing citizens' healthy daily lives and quality of life.

Since its creation in 2011, the Uhyeon District Railway Forest has been beloved by citizens. However, concerns about safety accidents have been continuously raised due to aging decks and inconvenient walking paths.

This section, in particular, is frequently used by transportation-vulnerable individuals, as it is adjacent to large apartment complexes, an elementary school, a women's cultural center, and a hospital, attracting guardians with strollers, children, and the elderly.

Reflecting this demand, Pohang City recognized the need for a 'barrier-free urban forest.' After applying for and being selected in the green fund (Lottery Commission Fund) project hosted by the Korea Forest Welfare Institute last year, the city began full-scale implementation of the project.

The recent development project focused on user-centered improvements, including: ▲ removal of old decks ▲ paving with sidewalk blocks to eliminate the risk of safety accidents ▲ installation of a new barrier-free ramp ▲ removal of hazardous elements from walking trails.

Notably, accessibility and safety have been enhanced so that citizens using wheelchairs or strollers can enjoy the urban forest without inconvenience.

Additionally, the forest trail has been redesigned as a space where visitors can relax in nature, and a variety of tree species have been planted to provide diverse natural scenery throughout all four seasons.

Beyond the current Uhyeon-dong project, Pohang City has also steadily expanded barrier-free urban forest spaces, completing development last year along an approximately 800-meter section in Yugang-ri, Yeonil-eup, Nam-gu (from Yugang Crossing to Yugang Water Purification Plant), which was selected as a project site in 2023.

Lee Kyungsik, head of the Greenway Promotion Division, stated, "We will continue to expand barrier-free urban forest sections so that everyone can enjoy them without limitations," adding, "We aim to make Pohang a leading city for barrier-free urban forests."

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