A site long plagued by illegal dumping has been transformed into a neighborhood park rest area for residents of Wonju, Gangwon Province.
The city of Wonju has completed construction of the rest area at Dangu Neighborhood Park and will open it to the public Monday.
The plot at 1593-3 Dangu-dong had been an idle parcel within the park that drew persistent complaints from residents due to ongoing illegal waste disposal.
In response, the city took up residents' suggestions raised at a mobile city hall session in Dangu-dong in August last year and moved forward with developing the rest area.
The newly opened space prioritizes resident convenience and urban greenery, featuring an open plaza equipped with pergolas and benches, along with a comfortable resting area planted with four-season ground cover including lilyturf.
A temporary sprinkler system has been installed in front of the open plaza's musical fountain to help ease the urban heat island effect and give residents a cool spot to take a break.
Two elementary schools are located near the rest area, and the site is expected to become a community hub where parents and local residents can gather and relax, while also improving the safety of children's routes to and from school.
The transformation marks a striking turnaround: a pile of trash that once threatened the educational environment along children's daily paths has become a welcoming rest area through the city's redevelopment effort.
Wonju said it will continue to maintain the park diligently after Monday's opening so that residents can enjoy a relaxing retreat in their everyday lives.
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