Millennium Park Introduction
Millennium Park, designated as "Park Reservation No. 2," covers an area of 13.2 hectares, making it the second largest park after Zhongshan Park. It is surrounded by Dalian Road, Guangdong Road, Liberty Road, and Victory Road, all of which are densely populated residential areas. Notably, Dalian Village to the east is the most populous village in Pingtung City, with over 13,000 residents. Located 200 meters southwest of Zhongshan Park, the area is adjacent to several educational institutions, including Pingtung University of Education, Pingtung Vocational High School, Luxing Junior High School, Ming Zheng Junior High School, and Ren'ai Elementary School, forming a notable cultural and educational zone. In its early years, the site housed the Pingtung County Cultural Center (now the Cultural Affairs Bureau) and the Municipal Zhengzhou Swimming Pool, making it a rare "lung of the city." After the city government initiated the land acquisition for Millennium Park in 1988, Mayor Huang Ching-han's administration conducted a comprehensive demolition of existing structures in 1995. However, due to budget constraints, development was delayed. It wasn't until 1998, under Mayor Wang Jin-shi, that funding was secured through a proposal to the Ministry of the Interior for the "Domestic Demand Expansion Plan - Creating a New Urban and Rural Landscape," followed by public consultations, which led to the development efforts finally commencing. The first two phases of Millennium Park have been completed, featuring low-density development that preserves the area's native plant ecology and the water management of Wannian Creek. With its lush greenery and charming bridges, it creates a stunning landscape amidst the urban jungle, earning the name "Millennium Park" through a vote by the citizens. Millennium Park officially opened on March 12, 2001, and was immediately embraced by the public. The city government frequently organizes family-oriented cultural events on weekends, such as the "Firefly Summer" ecological experience camp, water rocket launching, mudskipper catching, and ox cart rides around the park, making it a prime leisure destination.
