Yeongdeungpo's Third Sports Center Opens, Transforming a Long-Neglected Retention Basin

Yeongdeungpo-gu officially opened the Yeongdeungpo Third Sports Center on Tuesday, establishing a new hub for community sports in the Daelim-dong area.

Built on the site of the Daelim No. 3 retention basin — formerly avoided by residents due to foul odors — the four-story, 4,074-square-meter facility at 19 Dosin-ro has been transformed into a resident-friendly multipurpose sports complex. Located next to the Daelim Library, the center serves as a neighborhood landmark and a base for promoting health and recreational sports among local residents.

Before the official opening, the district ran a pilot operation from May 11 to June 19 to give residents early access and assess overall operations. More than 5,000 people used the facility during the trial period, drawing particularly strong satisfaction from residents in the Daelim-dong area, which had long lacked adequate sports facilities.

The district office drew up a master plan in 2018 and pursued extensive external negotiations to secure roughly 11.6 billion won ($7.46 million) in national and city government funding. After more than three years of construction, the complex opened its doors Tuesday.

The center is designed to serve all age groups. It offers a fitness gym equipped with the latest exercise machines, a large gymnasium, an indoor park golf course and a dedicated Pilates studio, allowing residents to work out in a comfortable environment regardless of weather or season.

Particularly notable is the third-floor swimming pool, which features a 25-meter, five-lane adult pool alongside a 23-meter, two-lane children's pool, catering to users from young children to adults. A dedicated spectator gallery on the fourth floor overlooks the pool, adding convenience for families. A multipurpose room will also host a range of community programs.

With the official opening, the center has launched 90 regular classes across 10 disciplines, including swimming, fitness, barre, Pilates, aqua aerobics, table tennis and dance. The center operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Membership enrollment for existing members runs from the 20th to the 25th of each month, while new members may register from the 26th until capacity is reached. Yeongdeungpo-gu residents receive a 10% discount on usage fees, with additional discounts available for multi-child households and residents aged 65 and older under separate criteria. For further details, contact the district office's Sports Promotion Division or the Yeongdeungpo-gu Facilities Management Corporation.

District Mayor Cho Yu-jin said it was deeply meaningful that residents of Daelim-dong, who had long lacked nearby sports facilities, could now enjoy a wide range of programs close to home. "We will do our best to expand lifestyle sports infrastructure that every generation can use together," she said.