Mareuk Neighborhood Park in Gwangju Opens to the Public on the 21st... Completed Through Private Park Project

9.4 Billion Won Invested Entirely by Private Capital
Equipped with Walking Trails, Play Facilities, and Multi-Purpose Parking Building
177,000 Square Meters of Urban Forest Park Created
Preserving Long-Term Unexecuted Urban Parks

Mareuk Neighborhood Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju, developed through a special private park project, was opened to the public on November 21. The project, which was promoted to preserve the park site, was completed entirely with private capital and created as an urban forest park equipped with walking trails, play facilities, and a multi-purpose parking building.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is giving a greeting speech at the opening ceremony of Mareuk Neighborhood Park in Seo-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Gwangju City

The Gwangju city government announced that it had established Mareuk Neighborhood Park through a special private park project in the Baekseoksan area of Seo-gu and opened it on November 21. Mareuk Neighborhood Park had been a long-term unexecuted urban planning facility at risk of losing its park designation automatically, and the city has been pursuing the project through a private park special method since 2017 to preserve it.

The special private park project allows a private developer to acquire the entire park site and create the park, donating it to the city of Gwangju, in exchange for being allowed to develop a portion of the site. Mareuk Neighborhood Park was established with a total investment of approximately 9.4 billion won (provisional), including land acquisition and construction costs, entirely with private capital and without any public funding.

The park covers about 177,000 square meters, preserving the forest to provide citizens with a relaxing space within the city. The 3.7-kilometer walking trail includes both a general path and the longest barefoot trail in Gwangju, along with amenities such as benches, foot-washing stations, exercise equipment, and pergolas.

Facilities for families, such as a water playground, adventure playground, and picnic area, have also been installed. The three-story multi-purpose parking building offers 114 parking spaces on the first and second floors and a multi-purpose space for cultural events and classes on the third floor.

The Gwangju city government stated that it adjusted the facility composition and convenience features through meetings attended by residents, the district office, and the construction company. Mayor Kang Gijeong said, "Mareuk Neighborhood Park will serve as a space for local residents' health and leisure," adding, "We will continue to complete the remaining long-term unexecuted urban parks sequentially to significantly expand the park area per citizen."

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