Visitors to Dobong-gu Jungnangcheon Increased by 436% Year-on-Year After Environmental Maintenance
Wet Section Created on Hwangtotgil, Adjusted Hwangto-Sand Mix Ratio Based on Resident Feedback
New Themed Landscape Lighting Installed on Deck Path for Beautiful Night Scenery
The cool breeze of autumn has arrived. The heatwave has also subsided around the autumnal equinox. These days, more and more people are looking for walking paths that are pleasant to stroll along.
Dobong-gu (District Mayor Oh Eon-seok) is seeing great popularity for the Jungnangcheon embankment path (Nowon Bridge to Changdo Elementary School) as a walking destination. The number of visitors to the embankment path, which completed environmental maintenance work in April this year, increased by 436% compared to the previous year as of July.
A district official explained, “After creating the loess path and deck path, the number of people visiting Jungnangcheon has greatly increased. Also, continuously improving the area by reflecting residents’ opinions has been another factor behind the rise in visitor numbers.”
In April this year, the district developed about 1.7 km from Nowon Bridge to Changdo Elementary School into a barefoot walking path. The entire section is a loess soil path, and about 668 meters from Dobong Seowon Apartment Building 104 to Building 116 was made into a loess path.
Since then, to create a more perfect loess path, the district continuously gathered opinions from experts and residents. In addition to dry sections, wet sections were created, and in response to feedback that “the loess is slippery and feet sink deeply,” the mixture ratio of loess and sand was adjusted and re-laid. Sprinklers were also installed to maintain the texture of the loess.
New convenience facilities were also installed. To prevent loess from sticking to shoes, loess blocks were placed along the passageway, and to prevent injuries caused by large stones on the loess soil path, a gravel barrier was installed.
Furthermore, to maintain a pleasant environment on the loess path, one public service worker, five fixed-term workers, and eight senior citizen job holders were assigned. Twelve members of the residents’ council were also appointed to provide proper guidance on using the loess path.
The Jungnangcheon deck path was also newly renovated. To offer a special experience where nature and art harmonize within the city, the district installed fiber optic landscape lighting. Since the 30th of last month, it has been illuminating the night sky daily from 15 minutes after sunset until 11 p.m.
The lighting, designed with the theme of starlight (constellations), offers visitors a fantastic experience as about 6,000 stars seem to sparkle beneath their feet with every step they take.
Oh Eon-seok, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “We will develop Jungnangcheon not just as a simple walking trail but as a cultural space that can be safely and enjoyably used even at night.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
