Uijeongbu City Completes Chudong Forest Garden “Happiness Path” for All... Full Opening on the 18th

2.7km Completed Over Six Years, Walking Trails Expanded to 8.8km in Total
Easy Access to the Summit for People with Disabilities, Seniors, and Children
Featuring Forest Perimeter Trail, Sky Yard, and Pine Tree Rest Area

An accessible 2.7km “Happiness Path,” which can be used without mobility restrictions by people with disabilities, seniors, and children, has been established at Chudong Forest Garden in Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province. With the project, which began in 2020, completed after six years, the entire path will be opened to the public on September 18, 2026.

Uijeongbu City Completes 2.7 km “Barrier-Free Happy Path” in Chudong Forest Garden. Photo by Uijeongbu City

Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Wonki) promoted the Happiness Path project by investing 5 billion won in a special adjustment grant, which it secured after winning the top prize in Gyeonggi Province's "Gyeonggi FIRST" competition in 2020.

The city divided the project into two phases, which took place from October 2020 to September 2026. In the first phase, a 1.3km section was constructed from the entrance at Neunggol, Singok-dong to the water park, and was opened to the public at the end of 2023. Subsequently, from December 2023, an additional 1.4km section was added from the water park to Sky Yard at the summit of Chudong Forest Garden.

The Happiness Path was designed with gentle slopes, making it easy for families with disabled persons, seniors, or young children to walk comfortably through the forest. At the summit, the Sky Yard was created as a space where visitors can enjoy sunrises and sunsets, and a pine tree rest area was developed for relaxation amid the dense forest.

A new 2.7km Forest Perimeter Trail, which circles the entire Chudong Forest Garden, has also been created. As a result, the total length of all walking paths within the forest garden, including existing trails, has increased to 8.8km.

Located across Singok-dong and Yonghyeon-dong, Chudong Forest Garden is an urban neighborhood park spanning approximately 730,000 square meters. Around 25% of Uijeongbu City's population lives within a 1km radius.

The park features a habitat for red spider lilies, a native flower garden, a bulb garden, Yeonpoji Arboretum, and a purple forest path. It is also equipped with cultural and sports amenities, including a water park, a science library, an observatory, an indoor tennis court, and an indoor badminton court.

The opening ceremony for the complete trail will be held at 3 p.m. on September 18, 2026, near the water park in Chudong Forest Garden. The city plans to walk the Happiness Path with citizens and assess levels of satisfaction and areas for further improvement.

Kim Wonki, Mayor of Uijeongbu City, said, “The Happiness Path is a policy that affirms the right of all citizens, including the socially vulnerable, to enjoy green urban spaces. We will continue to manage this so that everyone can enjoy Uijeongbu’s nature and culture without exclusion.”

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