Gyeonggi Province to Replace Flooring at 42 Playgrounds and Walking Trails with Cork by Year-End

Gyeonggi Province will complete its "Carbon Neutrality Implementation Pilot Project," which has been underway since last year, by the end of this year.

The Carbon Neutrality Implementation Pilot Project involves replacing existing chemical-based paving materials such as urethane and rubber granules, which are used for children's playgrounds and walking trails, with eco-friendly cork made from natural materials.

Over the past two years, Gyeonggi Province has invested a total of 2.8 billion won to promote eco-friendly cork paving in 42 community spaces, including children's playgrounds and walking trails, across 13 cities and counties.

Cork, a natural material extracted from tree bark, is a safe and environmentally friendly material due to its low risk of emitting hazardous substances, high elasticity, and excellent shock absorption. This project was launched with the aim of improving the flooring environment of public facilities by leveraging these characteristics.

Of the total 42 locations, construction has been completed at 26 sites, and the remaining 16 will be finished by the end of the year.

Guri City Neulpureun Park Repackaged with Cork Eco-Friendly Material

Gyeonggi Province divided the project into "experience/play" and "walking/plaza" types, depending on the space. For experience/play areas such as children's playgrounds and experiential facilities, cork was installed at a thickness of 50mm or more to absorb impacts. For walking/plaza areas such as walking trails, perimeter paths, and rest areas, a thickness of 15mm was applied to enhance the walking environment.

Based on this pilot project, Gyeonggi Province plans to actively expand the use of cork paving materials in future playground improvements and the creation of leisure facilities such as parks. The province will encourage the use of eco-friendly materials when establishing project plans for each city and county, and will continue to promote related guidelines and practical consultations.

Lee Jeongsoo, Director of the Garden Industry Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Starting the eco-friendly transition from the ground up in everyday spaces is the first step toward carbon neutrality that residents can truly feel," adding, "We will continue to expand the creation of leisure spaces such as parks that ensure both safety and environmental friendliness for residents."