Ten public meetings held to incorporate residents' input; green space, walking paths and playground upgraded. Garden culture festival set for Sept. 12-13, featuring talk concert and outdoor movie theater.
Yeongdeungpo-gu has completed a full renovation of Mullae Neighborhood Park and will mark the occasion with a garden culture festival offering an evening of outdoor entertainment this autumn.
Built in 1986, the park had long been in need of repair due to damaged walkways, aging facilities and poor drainage. The district held 10 public meetings through February to gather residents' input from the design stage onward, then invested about 3 billion won ($2.21 million) to complete the renovation in July.
The redesigned park was guided by the principle of preserving what exists and supplementing what is lacking. Existing large trees were kept wherever possible, while additional trees of varying sizes were planted to expand green space and strengthen the park's forest character. Seating areas with chairs and parasols were added throughout the grounds to give residents comfortable places to linger, and the drainage system was also upgraded.
The children's playground was expanded in response to input from a residents' committee and reorganized into age-specific zones for toddlers, younger children and older children.
Aging walking paths were also resurfaced to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers safely, and exercise equipment that had been scattered across the park was consolidated in one area for greater convenience.
To celebrate the renovation, the district will hold a two-day garden culture festival beginning Saturday.
The event opens Saturday at 4 p.m. with a brief completion ceremony, followed by a garden talk concert featuring stories and insights from horticulture experts. At 8 p.m., the park transforms into an outdoor movie theater — screening "Mamma Mia!" on Saturday and "Begin Again" on Sunday. Moviegoers will be provided wireless headphones to enhance their viewing experience.
Advance registration for the film screenings is available via the QR code on the event poster. Further details can be found on the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office website under the "Our District News" bulletin board.
"I am delighted to unveil Mullae Neighborhood Park, refreshed with the voices of our residents," Yeongdeungpo-gu District Mayor Jo Yu-jin said. "I hope everyone will come enjoy performances and films in this beautiful garden setting on a cool autumn evening."
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