Gwacheon City's 'Forest Book Village Playground' Selected as Outstanding Children's Facility by Ministry of Interior and Safety for 2025

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Yu Je-sung] Gwacheon City announced on the 5th that the 'Forest Book Village Playground' created within Airdri Park in Galhyeon-dong has been selected as an outstanding facility in the 'Outstanding Children's Facilities for 2025' evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Interior and Safety.

The evaluation was conducted on 46 facilities recommended by cities, provinces, and educational offices out of approximately 80,000 children's play facilities across the nation. The assessment was completed through expert written reviews and on-site inspections across 20 detailed items in five categories: safety management, creative space composition, operational management, accessibility, and regional specialization.

Gwacheon City's 'Forest Book Village Playground' received the highest level of evaluation across the nation and earned recognition as an outstanding facility.

The 'Forest Book Village Playground' is an open play space in nature that can be used by all generations. It received high marks for barrier-free pathways that accommodate people with disabilities, educational and exploratory play content tailored to different age groups, and space composition that harmonizes with greenery. Additionally, it was highly praised for improved accessibility through safety guidelines for each play structure, systematic operational management, and pleasant supplementary facilities such as resting areas and walking paths.

In particular, the playground completed construction in December 2023 and opened to citizens in spring 2024. With the theme 'a space where books and play meet in nature,' it features eco-friendly play equipment made primarily of wood, reading spaces, and exploratory play structures, allowing children to develop both creativity and emotional intelligence. It has become beloved by citizens.

Mayor Shin Gye-yong stated, "The Forest Book Village Playground in Airdri Park is a space where children's laughter and citizens' rest coexist, symbolizing Gwacheon's dignified living culture. Going forward, we will continuously expand safe and creative play environments to develop into a city good for raising children," he said.