Geumcheon-gu Transforms Siheung-daero Into a Four-Season Garden Strip

Siheung-daero — a main artery and gateway into Geumcheon-gu — has shed its bleak asphalt character and emerged as a vibrant streetside garden showcasing the beauty of all four seasons.

Geumcheon-gu said it has successfully completed a "street tree growth environment improvement project" along the stretch near 1000-92 Siheung-daero, unveiling a four-season garden-style green strip designed to offer residents a pleasant, nature-friendly environment.

The corridor had long suffered severe tree die-off caused by soil contamination from winter road-salt applications and repeated pest damage, including box tree moth infestations. The deterioration had not only blighted the streetscape but also made walking along the road a significant inconvenience for residents.

In response, the district this year undertook a comprehensive soil improvement and habitat restoration effort. Moving away from monotonous planting patterns of the past, crews arranged a layered mix of evergreens, flowering shrubs and perennial plants — including emerald green arborvitae, hydrangeas, weigela, variegated privet and heuchera.

Residents can now enjoy an ever-changing urban garden on their daily commutes, with the planting palette shifting in color and texture through every season.

The project goes beyond aesthetics, adding what the district called a "functional innovation for climate-change response." Geumcheon-gu introduced an eco-friendly construction method using rainwater-harvesting curb blocks, designed to let runoff seep naturally into the soil and be stored there. The system minimizes moisture stress on trees during summer heat waves and droughts while improving overall growth stability.

The district said the new method is also expected to reduce fine-dust levels in the urban environment, lower surface temperatures and help ease the chronic urban heat island effect that plagues the area in summer.

Building on this project, the district said it plans to continue identifying and rehabilitating poorly maintained green strips across the area, steadily expanding green spaces where residents can relax amid nature in their everyday lives.