Icheon-si Creates Urban Forest on 4,350㎡ of Idle Land in Jeungpo-dong

From Crime-Ridden Area to Green Space Transformation

On the 18th, Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province announced that it has transformed a 4,350㎡ idle land area at San 71-2, Jeungpo-dong, which had been left unattended, illegally cultivated, or considered a high-risk area for youth, into an 'urban forest.'

At the completion ceremony of the Jungpo Urban Forest in Icheon, attendees including Kim Kyung-hee (7th from the left), Mayor of Icheon, are cutting the commemorative tape. Provided by Icheon City

This area is idle land owned by the Korea National Railway Corporation, located between Jeungpo-dong Prugio 2nd Apartment and Jeungpo Middle School, and had been neglected without proper management. In particular, continuous complaints arose due to various youth-related incidents and accidents.

Accordingly, the city explained that it carried out an 'urban forest' creation project on the idle land and has now completed it. An 'urban forest' refers to a forest established in urban areas or residential zones and their surroundings to mitigate urban heat islands and heatwaves, absorb carbon, reduce fine dust, and preserve ecosystems.

Through this urban forest project, the city planted 187 trees, 13,346 shrubs, and 12,760 herbaceous plants along a walking trail. The trail includes 340 meters of loess paths, four exercise facilities, one foot-washing station, and 15 rest facilities. For citizen safety, 29 security lights and seven CCTV cameras were also installed in the urban forest.

Kim Kyung-hee, mayor of Icheon City, said, "Through the Jeungpo urban forest, we have provided citizens with a pleasant urban landscape and taken the lead in carbon neutrality. We will continue to expand various types of urban forests to improve the local environment."