Naju-si Creates 'Smart Safe Walking Paths' in Alleyways Including Namsan Park

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Han-hyuk Lee] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 19th that it has been selected for the ‘Public Service Design (Crime Prevention Environmental Design) Contest Project’ hosted by Jeollanam-do and will promote the ‘Smart Safe Walking Path Creation Project’ for the alleys around Naju Middle School and Namsan Park.

This project aims to create a safe public environment to improve citizens' safety and quality of life in vulnerable areas with poor living conditions within the province.

The city plans to invest a total of 150 million KRW, including 45 million KRW in provincial funds secured through the contest selection, to create a ‘Solar-powered Rest Area’ (29 Namnae-dong) and a ‘Safe Walking Path’ (around Namsan-gil and Namnae 4-gil) incorporating smart energy technology.

In addition to securing safety in the alley sections used as school routes for students, the project is expected to create synergy effects in improving residents' living environment infrastructure by linking with the ongoing old downtown (Eupseong area and Jukrim-dong) urban regeneration project and the Namsan Citizens’ Forest creation project.

In particular, the project is expected to gain momentum in promoting various crime prevention design (CPTED) projects in local spaces based on the ‘Crime Prevention Design and Installation Support for Security Facilities’ ordinance enacted and promulgated by the city on January 8 this year.

In the first half of this year, the city will form a ‘Provincial Design Team’ in the form of a resident consultative body to implement demand-centered projects that citizens can feel.

The design team will consist of residents, school officials, service designers (experts), and city officials, playing a leading role in the overall project promotion, including developing living environment designs reflecting regional characteristics.

Following the formation and operation of the design team and the public design review process of Jeollanam-do, the city plans to start the project in earnest in the second half of the year and complete it by the end of the year.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “Through this project, we will not only secure the safety of residents and students who find nighttime walking inconvenient but also provide citizens with a pleasant living environment. We will do our best to ensure the practical participation of residents in the project by forming and operating the design team.”