Youngtong District Tackles 'Parking Lot' Problem at Mangpo Station Public Plaza

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Youngtong District of Suwon City announced on the 1st that it will undertake an improvement project to restore the original function of Mangpo Station Public Plaza, which has been used as a sidewalk and parking lot for nearby shops.

The 'Mangpo Station Public Plaza,' designated according to the urban management plan in January 1994, is located in front of shops near Mangpo Station (3 parcels including 976-10 Youngtong-dong, totaling 3,697㎡). Since shops were established in the area after 2000, the plaza has been used as a parking lot (96 spaces) and sidewalk for adjacent shops.

A public plaza is defined as a facility established to protect major facilities or the environment, maintain scenery, prepare disaster countermeasures, and secure pedestrian passage and residents' temporary rest spaces.

As foot traffic around Mangpo Station surged, citizen complaints continued, stating that "walking is inconvenient due to cars parked on the public plaza," and there were many accident risks from vehicles crossing sidewalks to park. From 2019 to the present, there have been approximately 790 complaints requesting to report and crack down on illegal parking and stopping at Mangpo Station Public Plaza. Last October, an accident occurred when a resident pushing a stroller was hit by a vehicle.

However, the 'Urban Parks and Greenland Act' has no provisions addressing illegal activities on public plazas, making it difficult for Suwon City to conduct aggressive enforcement such as imposing fines. The absence of facility installation standards for public plazas also limited the city's ability to pursue maintenance projects such as creating green spaces.

Youngtong District plans to promote an improvement project for Mangpo Station Public Plaza, which is being used contrary to its original purpose despite continuous enforcement and guidance, to create an environment where pedestrians can safely walk.

On October 22, Youngtong District held a meeting with merchants from the Mangpo Station Shopping Center Association, informing them of the 'restriction on parking lot use within the public plaza' and requesting their cooperation for the improvement project. District Chief Song Young-wan, eight merchant representatives from the association, and the residents' autonomous committee chair of Youngtong 2-dong attended the meeting.

Merchants are opposing the restriction, saying "If we limit parking on the public plaza, customers have nowhere to park and business becomes difficult." Nearby private parking lots charge high fees with low utilization rates, and the Mangpo Station public parking lot is always full.

An official from Youngtong District made clear the position that "we cannot further delay the public plaza improvement project for resident safety." According to Youngtong District's survey of parking conditions at Mangpo Station Public Plaza, approximately 70% of parked vehicles belong to shop tenants and employees at Mangpo Station shops.

Youngtong District plans to promote 'public plaza use restrictions' to merchants and citizens during November and install approximately 50 bollards (vehicle restriction installations). Vehicle traffic and parking will be prohibited starting November 15.

By December, the district will conduct a basic implementation design project to reorganize the public plaza as a rest space for residents. From February to May 2021, 'improvement project phase 1' will proceed, which includes improving the environment around Mangpo Station Public Plaza and repairing roads. 'Improvement project phase 2' will proceed after securing a budget. The district plans to create a specialized street, including a resident convenience space for pedestrian passage within the public plaza.

Youngtong District Chief Song Young-wan said, "Through this project, we will restore the original function of Mangpo Station Public Plaza and create an environment where citizens can walk safely," and added, "When a pleasant environment for residents to rest is created, it will also help revitalize the local commercial district." He continued, "Since this is a project for citizen safety, we hope the merchants' association will actively participate."