A 20,000-square-meter open garden takes shape on a sports site in Gwangjang-dong, opening to residents Tuesday. A site left idle for 23 years is reborn as a green space for rest and community. With a lawn plaza, walking paths and rest areas, the garden is set to serve as an everyday leisure destination for picnics and activities.
Gwangjin-gu has completed construction of Gwangnaru Garden, a 20,000-square-meter leisure space on a sports site in Gwangjang-dong, and opened it to residents Tuesday.
The garden transforms a long-dormant vacant lot into an open green space that any resident can freely enjoy. It was designed as a community-oriented green retreat where people can relax in nature and spend time together.
The project carries particular significance as it returns to residents a site that sat neglected for 23 years. Originally designated for a sports field, the lot was left surrounded by gray fencing for decades as a large-scale integrated development plan stalled repeatedly.
Responding to residents' persistent calls for more leisure space and a better living environment, the district began construction in April and completed the open space in about three months.
Gwangnaru Garden was designed for visitors of all ages. Walking paths, benches and tables are spread throughout so anyone can linger comfortably. The expansive lawn plaza is intended as a multipurpose space for family picnics, small gatherings, flea markets and outdoor activities.
The garden also offers a changing landscape through the seasons. Planners put in 398 trees across 20 species — including yoshino cherry trees — along with 16,370 shrubs across 28 species such as hydrangeas and roses, and 64,255 flowering plants across 20 species, ensuring colorful scenery year-round.
Safety and convenience were carefully considered as well. Park lights, bollard lights and CCTV cameras were installed for safe nighttime use, and an air-dome shelter is planned to give visitors a place to rest during heat waves and cold snaps.
Residents were involved throughout the design process. The district held community briefings to share layout plans and gather feedback, and the garden's name was chosen through a public contest open to both residents and district employees. Of 107 entries, "Gwangnaru Garden" was selected as the final name for capturing the history of Gwangjang-dong and the identity of the old Gwangnaru ferry crossing.
"A space that spent 23 years behind gray fencing has now been reborn as an open garden where any resident can freely rest and enjoy themselves," Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Gyeong-ho said. "We will do our utmost to manage the garden and run programs so that Gwangnaru Garden can become Gwangjin-gu's signature green space — a place for everyday rest and connection."
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