Uijeongbu City Guarantees Children's Right to Play
A Major Transformation in Play Environments Filled with Children's Smiles
Uijeongbu City Utilizes Indoor and Outdoor Play Spaces
A Warm Embrace from the Entire Community
Remodeled with a Focus on Safety and Accessibility
Spaces to Enjoy Regardless of Season or Weather
In order to guarantee children's right to play and support their healthy development, Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating the creation of diverse play environments utilizing both indoor and outdoor playgrounds and parks. The city is implementing a variety of policies that make use of parks, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and natural spaces to provide children-who are now accustomed to learning and digital devices-with spaces where they can freely run and play.
According to Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Donggeun) on October 10, the city has been operating forest education programs (including early childhood forest education and forest interpretation) from March to November this year at early childhood forest experience centers, Jail Forest Bath, and major walking trails.
◆ Urban Park Playgrounds with Enhanced Safety and Accessibility
Uijeongbu City's urban parks are home to a total of 108 children's playgrounds (covering 29,092 square meters), and the city has remodeled 13 of its aging playgrounds to ensure children can play more safely.
Particularly noteworthy is the Nokyang-dong Rose Children's Park, Uijeongbu's first barrier-free inclusive playground. By lowering slopes and installing barrier-free combination play equipment and braille audio guideboards, the city has created an environment where all children, including those with disabilities, can enjoy themselves without discrimination. In addition, with two welfare facilities for people with disabilities located nearby, accessibility for children with disabilities has been greatly improved.
The Shingok-dong Sky Light Children's Park (Maple Leaf Playground), which was opened in collaboration with the Nexon Foundation, also improved the play environment by actively reflecting the opinions of local children.
Uijeongbu City plans to continue expanding play spaces for children by remodeling two additional aging playgrounds by 2026.
◆ Public Indoor Playgrounds Enjoyable Regardless of Weather
'Everyone's Playground,' a public indoor playground where children can play without worry even during fine dust alerts or inclement weather, is another point of pride for Uijeongbu City.
Currently operating at three locations-Uijeongbu, Millak, and Lotte Mom Branch-each venue offers unique features to provide children with tailored play experiences.
The Millak Branch expanded and relocated the former 'Child Love Playground' from the 9th floor of the CY Tower in Millak-dong and has newly launched the 'Uijeongbu English Playground.' Here, children can naturally encounter English through fun activities such as AR experiences with native speakers, which has received a great response.
The Lotte Mom Branch, located on the first floor of the Integrated Child Care Center (formerly Uijeongbu 1-dong Community Center), covers about 330 square meters and has been operating since May this year. It was established after being selected for a Lotte Group social contribution contest, with the old government office remodeled so that the first floor serves as a public indoor playground and the second floor is used as a communal after-school care center for elementary school students.
The city also plans to create a 'Child Care Facility Cluster' in the Gosan District in cooperation with Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). As the nation's first model integrating play spaces and various care facilities, it will establish a comprehensive care environment for children.
Public indoor playgrounds provide safe spaces for children to play regardless of external factors such as weather or fine dust, alleviating financial burdens for parents and contributing to happy parenting at home.
◆ Experience Programs Where Forests and Villages Become Playgrounds
Uijeongbu City is providing environments where infants and children can play freely in the forest through play and experience programs connected with the local community. From March to November this year, the city has been operating forest education programs (including early childhood forest education and forest interpretation) at early childhood forest experience centers, Jail Forest Bath, and major walking trails.
At the three early childhood forest experience centers-Cheongsachorong, Omok Culture, and Jikdong-children receive education that fosters interaction with nature using all five senses, guided by early childhood forest instructors. As of the end of 2024, the number of children using these programs is expected to reach 20,000, highlighting their popularity.
The city is also hosting various events at Songsansa-ji Neighborhood Park. On September 26, the 'Autumn Forest Carbon Neutral Play Festival' was held, organized by the Uijeongbu Branch of the Gyeonggi Chapter of the Korea Forest Kindergarten Association, with participation from 15 local daycare centers and about 750 children. The children enjoyed playing freely in the autumn forest, fostering a love for nature and making small pledges to protect the environment.
In addition, from October 11 to November 1, the city will hold the 'Autumn is a Reading Garden' event in rotation at Songsansa-ji Neighborhood Park, Jikdong Entrance Plaza, and Bitdeul Culture Park every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., for a total of four sessions.
In collaboration with the Saemaul Mobile Library, the city will offer book lending and children's writing classes, as well as classical, traditional Korean music, and saxophone performances with local musicians, and a flower bookmark-making experience program.
Mayor Kim Donggeun stated, "An environment where children can play freely is the foundation for a bright future for the city," adding, "Uijeongbu City will always strive to ensure that children can enjoy their right to play safely and happily."
Uijeongbu City plans to create tangible changes that citizens can feel through policies tailored to each stage of child development, from birth to growth, and to realize its vision of becoming a city where it is good to raise children.
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