A new urban retreat blending nature, rest and hands-on experience — the picnic lawn, decomposed-granite trail and toddler forest playground are already drawing attention
Seodaemun-gu (district mayor Park Un-gi) has opened Noljasup, a 13,687-square-meter nature-friendly recreational complex inside Baengnyeon Neighborhood Park in Hongeun-dong.
The district demolished existing unauthorized structures on the site and transformed the area into an eco-friendly space where nature and people coexist. Designed for children and families to experience nature close to the city, the park was refurbished as a forest experience space that harmonizes with its surroundings while preserving the existing park environment as much as possible.
The project also prioritized eco-friendly design: trees, rocks and other natural materials generated during construction were reused on-site wherever possible, minimizing environmental damage and reducing construction costs.
At the picnic lawn, families can spread out a mat on the open grass, unwind and take in the seasonal changes of the forest and the natural scenery within the city.
A decomposed-granite walking trail offers the pleasure of strolling through nature, while a toddler forest playground and a forest rest area let young visitors engage all five senses, nurturing creativity and a spirit of adventure.
Children's ecology and hands-on programs linked to a nearby infant forest experience center are also set to run, generating further interest.
The district carried out the park improvement project from September last year through June this year under the Seoul Metropolitan Government's master plan for transforming Baengnyeon Neighborhood Park into a themed, multi-purpose healing park, investing 1.259 billion won ($912,000) in city funds.
Three unauthorized structures were demolished, and the district installed a pavilion, a pergola (a shaded rest structure), two wooden platforms, 270 meters of dirt-concrete walking paths, various exercise equipment and landscaping trees.
"We hope Noljasup will be cherished as an open space that serves both play and rest, and as a community gathering place for residents," district mayor Park said.
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