New Culture and Relaxation Space
Pohang City will create a citizen plaza, a cultural and resting space, on a site of about 900㎡ near the railway forest in Deungnyang-dong, Buk-gu, from April to December this year.
To this end, the city has completed negotiations and compensation for private land and obstacles so far and is currently carrying out foundation work such as earthwork and drainage construction.
The citizen plaza will consist of an entrance plaza, a lawn plaza, a rock garden (Seokgasan), water features (cascade), an observation deck, and a rose garden.
To allow citizens to enjoy beautiful nature throughout the four seasons, the plan is to plant various trees and flowers, including about 250 large trees such as pine and cherry trees, 19,900 shrubs such as Nandina, 650 silver grass plants, and 90 garden roses.
In addition, a forest path connecting the Pohang railway forest and the coexistence park will be opened, and an observation deck overlooking the city will be constructed at the upper part of the citizen plaza.
Furthermore, to create a distinctive space, several oddly shaped rocks will be piled up, and a Seokgasan (stone mountain) will be installed by planting sculptural pine trees and Abies koreana to reproduce the shape of a mountain in a reduced scale.
Along with this, various convenience facilities such as sunbeds, resting decks, and pergolas will be provided to offer a comfortable space where any citizen can relax and enjoy.
Since 2009, the city has created the 9.3 km-long Pohang railway forest running north to south from Uhyeon-dong to Yeonil-eup Yugang-ri, which has been loved by citizens. Centered on the Pohang railway forest, the local commercial district has been revitalized, voluntary urban regeneration has been promoted, and a new urban culture has been created, establishing Pohang as a true forest city.
Because the railway forest was created in a straight line along the abandoned railway, it is good for walking or cycling but has been criticized for lacking places to stay and rest or hold various events. Therefore, even when holding walking competitions or direct transaction markets in the railway forest, there was no suitable place for crowds to gather, so plazas under nearby overpasses were used.
Accordingly, the city plans to actively utilize the Pohang citizen plaza in the railway forest area as a space for community activities such as citizen meetings, expression of opinions, cultural events, performances, exhibitions, and relaxation.
The city will hold a naming contest for the citizen plaza in the future to create a symbolic space that local residents can easily recognize and that reflects regional and cultural characteristics.
Lee Kyung-sik, head of the Greenway Promotion Division, said, “With the addition of the citizen plaza to the Pohang railway forest, which has become a pleasant walking trail, it is expected to become a cultural space and a landmark in the city center.” He added, “We will do our best to continuously create a healthy urban forest to enhance the happiness of citizens.”
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