Ground-breaking held Thursday — a 500-square-meter multipurpose cultural facility backed by Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance
The complex will feature a children's reading and play space, a café and lounge, and a program room
Yeongdeungpo-gu has broken ground on a multipurpose cultural facility that combines an eco-friendly children's playground with a community gathering space for residents.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held Thursday at Eoulssup Neighborhood Park in Singil-dong, drawing about 100 attendees — including Yeongdeungpo-gu District Mayor Jo Yu-jin, representatives from Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance and local residents — to mark the official launch of the project.
The facility, to be built within Eoulssup Neighborhood Park (Singil-dong 4969-8 and surrounding lots), will serve as a multipurpose cultural space. Funded through Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance's corporate social responsibility program, it will be the first of its kind nationwide, with Yeongdeungpo-gu hosting the inaugural location.
The district signed a multilateral MOU last October with Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, nonprofit Root Impact and social enterprise Elephant Factory. Two subsequent community information sessions helped shape a blueprint for a facility open not only to children but also to parents and all local residents.
The resulting design calls for a single-story building of about 500 square meters, featuring a reading and play space, a café and lounge, and a program room. While children engage their senses through books and painting, caregivers can recharge through networking sessions to share parenting concerns, as well as meditation and yoga classes. The district said it aims to build a parenting community that supports both children's healthy development and caregivers' well-being.
Alongside the facility construction, the district plans a broader environmental upgrade of Eoulssup Neighborhood Park. Residents had long noted that the park's sloped terrain makes it difficult for elderly visitors and others with limited mobility to walk through, and that shaded rest areas are scarce. In response, the district will renovate the park's walking paths and install shade structures during the construction process, transforming it into a comfortable space for all residents.
"I hope Eoulssup Neighborhood Park will become a beloved new landmark in Singil-dong, filled with children's laughter and the warm conversations of residents," District Mayor Jo said. "We will continue to create spaces where residents can comfortably enjoy culture and relaxation close to their everyday lives."
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