Dongjak-gu Supports Creating Neighborhood Gardens Cultivated by Our Own Hands

Sadang 1-dong Youth Council and 16 Other Organizations Selected, Receive 22 Million KRW in Recording Material Support Funds... Distribution of 4,942 Trees Including Persimmon Trees and 4,596 Herbaceous Plants Including 10 Types of Ivy for Garden Creation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) is officially launching the ‘2021 Citizen-led Urban Greening Resident Proposal Project’ to enable residents to plant and nurture flowers and trees in their daily lives.

The citizen-led urban greening resident proposal project is part of the ‘Seoul, Blooming with Flowers’ campaign, where communities consisting of five or more members participate in the entire process?from selecting greening sites, planting, to post-management?to spread a garden culture of planting and nurturing flowers and trees.

In February, applications were accepted for support of materials needed for greening activities such as trees, flowers, and fertilizers up to 2 million KRW, targeting places suitable for greening activities such as alleys, schools, commercial areas, and apartments. A total of 29 organizations, including the Sadang 1-dong Youth Council, applied for approximately 48 million KRW in greening material support funds.

Following the review committee’s evaluation held in March, 16 organizations including the Sadang 1-dong Youth Guidance Council and the Bondong Samsung Raemian Apartment Residents’ Representative Council were selected and received about 22 million KRW in greening material funds.

With the 22 million KRW support fund, the district purchased greening materials and on the 9th distributed 4,942 trees such as persimmon trees, 4,596 herbaceous plants of 10 species including ivy, and 208 bags of fertilizer to the 16 selected organizations at the multipurpose playground of Noryangjin Neighborhood Park Management Office.

Accordingly, the Sadang 1-dong Youth Council planted 40 golden arborvitae, 200 ivies, 40 petunias, 18 hydrangeas, and 28 geraniums throughout Sadang 1-dong, while 15 apartment complexes including Bondong Samsung Raemian Apartment planted 740 Korean asters, 1,224 boxwoods, and 784 nandinas to create community gardens.

Additionally, before planting flowers and trees, the selected organizations removed weeds and mixed leaf mold and soil well to ensure the flowers and trees could grow healthily as part of preparatory work.

The organizations plan to carefully nurture and beautifully maintain the planted flowers and trees in their spare time.

Kim Won-sik, Director of the Parks and Greenery Division, said, “Since this project was proposed directly by residents, it is expected to contribute to establishing a resident-led culture where residents plant and nurture flowers and trees themselves,” adding, “I hope the trees and flowers will sprout new buds and bloom beautiful flowers so that we can enjoy beautiful gardens all year round.”

Meanwhile, last month, about 8,000 spring flowers such as violas and marigolds were planted near Sangdo Station and in front of Chung-Ang University, and about 17,000 spring flowers were planted at nine community service centers including Heukseok-dong, creating distinctive flower paths.