LH Partners with Suwon City and Urban Foundation to Create 'Citizen-Led Parks and Green Spaces'

Suwon City and Suwon Urban Foundation Establish Citizen Participation and Communication System for Citizen-Led Park and Green Space
242,000㎡ Park and Green Space in Suwon Dangsujigu Targeted, Expansion to Projects like Goyang Changneung Planned

Kim Hyun-jun, President of LH (left), Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon (center), and Heo Jeong-mun, Chairman of Suwon Urban Foundation (right) are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the "Basic Agreement for Sustainable Park and Green Space Development" at Suwon City Hall on the 14th.

Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) is joining hands with Suwon City and Suwon Urban Foundation to create citizen-led parks and green spaces.

According to industry sources on the 15th, LH signed a "Basic Agreement for Sustainable Park and Green Space Creation" with Suwon City and Suwon Urban Foundation at Suwon City Hall on the 14th.

"Sustainable parks and green spaces" differ from the traditional public-led unilateral park and green space development approach by incorporating citizens' opinions from the initial planning stage to design and create park and green space facilities. After creation, a citizen council takes the lead in operating and managing the parks and green spaces, making it a "citizen-led" development model.

This agreement was established for LH, Suwon City, and Suwon Urban Foundation to mutually cooperate in piloting a 242,000㎡ park and green space in the Dangsu District of Suwon as a citizen-led park and green space.

Under the agreement, LH will be responsible for designing and constructing the park and green space reflecting the citizen council's opinions; Suwon City will provide administrative and permit support; and Suwon Urban Foundation will oversee citizen participation, including forming and operating the citizen council.

The park will be developed under the concept of a "community park created and operated together by citizens," featuring key facilities such as a water play area, exhibition facilities, community center, ecological learning center, and forest resting area, along with additional facilities reflecting citizen demand.

LH expects that by involving village communities composed of citizens and local residents in collaboration with the public sector throughout the planning, creation, and operation of the park and green space, demand-tailored parks and green spaces can be developed. This will also contribute to improving citizens' environmental welfare and creating new jobs.

To this end, the citizen council will be formed by next month, followed by opinion gathering on the basic plan for park and green space creation (March to May), idea contests, and development of operation programs (after May). The park will be gradually developed together with citizens by 2025.

Additionally, through thorough monitoring of the pilot project's outcomes, there are plans to expand the project to various regions, including the Changneung District in Goyang.

Kim Hyun-jun, President of LH, who attended the agreement signing, stated, "This sustainable park and green space project marks a meaningful first step in creating new parks and green spaces together with citizens. It will not only establish demand-tailored parks and green spaces but also greatly contribute to improving citizens' residential environments and creating jobs." He emphasized, "Going forward, LH will firmly establish an ESG management system throughout its projects, focusing on eco-friendliness and social value realization, to ensure citizens can enjoy more comfortable and healthy living."

Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon City, said, "For parks and green spaces to sustain vitality across generations, they must flexibly respond to users' needs and changing times." He added, "As Suwon City's first park and green space project created together with citizens from the start, we will intensify administrative efforts to ensure its successful completion and sustainability through close cooperation with LH and related organizations."

Heo Jeong-moon, Director of Suwon Urban Foundation, said, "We will cooperate to ensure active citizen participation in this park and green space project, where citizens create, manage, and truly become the owners."