Parks and Greenery in Suwon Dangsul District to Be Created with Citizen Leadership

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Parks and greenery within the Suwon Dangsul public residential site will be developed as 'citizen-led parks and greenery.'

Suwon City, LH (Korea Land & Housing Corporation), and Suwon Urban Foundation signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation for Sustainable Parks and Greenery Development with Citizens' at the Suwon City Hall Emergency Response Center on the 14th, pledging cooperation.

The MOU signing ceremony was attended by Suwon Mayor Yom Tae-young, LH President Kim Hyun-jun, Suwon Urban Foundation Chairman Heo Jung-moon, and Park & Greenery Business Director Oh Ki-young, among others.

The 'sustainable urban parks and greenery project' refers to developing parks and greenery led by citizens who participate from the planning stage, rather than in a one-sided manner led by the government. After development, a citizen council will be responsible for operation and management.

Parks and greenery within the Suwon Dangsul public residential site will be developed in the Dangsudong area with a scale of 242,000㎡ (equivalent to 34 soccer fields). LH will establish the foundation for parks and greenery by 2023, and from 2024 to 2025 will create 'citizens' spaces' reflecting public input while preparing a 'citizen-led management and operation system.'

From 2026 onwards, the system will transition completely to citizen-led management and operation, establishing itself as 'parks and greenery where citizens are the main agents.'

In accordance with the agreement, Suwon City will support administrative procedures including licensing and review at each stage of project promotion, while Suwon Urban Foundation will oversee 'citizen participation' by establishing and operating a 'citizen joint council' to gather public input. LH will design the parks and greenery reflecting opinions and ideas from the citizen council and proceed with construction.

By February, Suwon Urban Foundation will establish the 'citizen joint council,' and by May will gather public input on the basic plan for parks and greenery development. The foundation plans to solicit citizen ideas and develop park operation programs.

LH President Kim Hyun-jun stated, "This is a meaningful project that takes the first step in creating a new urban park together with citizens who actually use the parks," and added, "We will make efforts to introduce ESG (environmental, social, and governance) management systems including eco-friendliness, shared prosperity, and transparent decision-making across all LH projects."

Mayor Yom Tae-young said, "It is significant from the perspective of 'sustainability of park management' that citizens themselves, as users, become the main agents in creating and maintaining green spaces directly connected to citizens' daily lives," and stated, "We will gather our hearts and wisdom together with citizens to set an example for 'green governance.' We will cooperate closely with LH and Suwon Urban Foundation to successfully carry out the 'Parks and Greenery Development Project with Citizens,' which is being conducted for the first time in Suwon City."