Ansan City Shifts Public Sports Facility Paradigm... Focus on Qualitative Improvement and Restructuring

Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Minguen) is embarking on a comprehensive restructuring of its sports policy, moving beyond the quantitative expansion of public sports facilities to focus on efficient operation and balanced regional development.

On April 14, Ansan City announced the results of the 'Study on the Appropriate Scale of Public Sports Facilities' during a regular briefing, stating that, based on these findings, it will provide citizen-centered, experiential sports welfare services.

On the 14th, Ansan City announced the results of the 'Study on Appropriate Scale of Public Sports Facilities' through a regular briefing. Provided by Ansan City

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Until now, Ansan City has expanded its infrastructure for daily sports by increasing the number of public sports facilities. However, as public interest in health has grown, the demand for sports facilities has continued to rise, and appropriate facility standards considering population size and financial conditions have been insufficient. Additionally, challenges have arisen such as increased operational and management burdens due to the growing number of facilities, gaps between different neighborhoods, and overlapping functions.

In response, the city commissioned a study to determine the appropriate scale of sports facilities based on population and usage demand, and to redefine the functions and roles of each facility. The study was carried out over approximately eight months, from June of last year to February of this year, and included: ▲ a survey of the current status of public sports facilities ▲ a comparative analysis of cities and counties within Gyeonggi Province ▲ an analysis of user demand and a review of the appropriate scale of facilities.

According to the analysis, Ansan City has a total of 121 public sports facilities, ranking fifth in facility count among the 31 cities and counties in Gyeonggi Province, indicating a relatively high level of quantitative supply. On the other hand, 93.1% of all facilities are outdoor, with only 8.3% consisting of multipurpose sports centers, highlighting an imbalance in facility structure. Furthermore, the facilities are concentrated in certain areas, with 74 located in Danwon-gu and 47 in Sangnok-gu.

Accordingly, the city plans to shift its policy focus from large-scale facility expansion to restructuring existing facilities. The mid- to long-term plan will emphasize strengthening indoor, complex, and multipurpose functions, redistributing facilities by neighborhood, and specializing functions by age group, implementing these systematically.

Ansan City will also begin full-scale operation of two new sports facilities to provide citizen-centric sports services.

The 'Saengjon Nuri Swimming Pool', which opened on March 26, is a year-round, complex swimming facility with an air dome structure that utilizes the existing outdoor pool in Hosu Park, Sangnok-gu. It is equipped with an adult pool, children's pool, competition pool, and wave pool. Survival swimming education for elementary students is offered in partnership with schools, with 22 schools and 160 classes scheduled to participate this year.

In addition, starting next month, lessons and free swimming will be provided in the competition pool to help disperse the waiting demand from the existing swimming pool and improve accessibility. The water play area will be operated as a family-oriented leisure space with a focus on safety, applying different operating schedules by season.

The 'Ansan Bandabi Sports and Culture Center', established on the site of the Olympic Memorial Hall in Danwon-gu, has also begun full operation. Opened on March 27, this integrated sports facility is accessible to both people with and without disabilities and consists of three floors above ground. It is equipped with a multipurpose auditorium, swimming pool, indoor gymnasium, fitness room, and rehabilitation treatment room.

The center will be operated on a trial basis until June. Sports programs for people with disabilities will be run in cooperation with the Disabled Sports Association, while free swimming and gymnasium rental will also be available to non-disabled users. The programs will be gradually expanded based on feedback from the trial operation.

The city plans to improve operational completeness and establish a stable foundation for facility management by incorporating user feedback during the trial period.

Mayor Lee Minguen of Ansan City stated, "Based on the results of this study, we will establish a mid- to long-term management plan for public sports facilities to enhance their efficiency and balance. We will continue to create an environment where every citizen can enjoy sports activities close to home."

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