Central Park Introduction
Central Park occupies a prime area in Kaohsiung City, adjacent to the Wufu commercial district and connected with Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Taisugar Department Store, Dali Department Store, and Hanshin Department Store. The lush Central Park spans 12.7 hectares and features areas such as an artificial lake, a garden maze, and a water dance plaza, making it an excellent place to relax after dining. From the elevated grassy areas, one can gaze southward and see the tall skyscrapers in southern Kaohsiung, such as the 85 Sky Tower and Han Lai Hotel. The urban corridor on the south side of the park collaborates with various artists to create a new artistic leisure walkway, which greatly stimulated Taiwan's urban aesthetics and imagination upon its opening in 2001. On the north side, the Kaohsiung Museum of Literature and the Lee Yong-Ko Memorial Library provide quiet and high-quality reading environments. The Central Park MRT station, designed with the concept of "Modern Kaohsiung" by British architect Richard Rogers, features a large white canopy and lightweight yellow columns, creating a design imagery called "Soaring." This white canopy not only gives the Central Park station a fashionable atmosphere and structural beauty but also incorporates a special rainwater collection design that guides rainwater into a stepped waterfall inside the station. Sunlight, flowing water, and the green plants on the walls create a fresh and natural forest-like ambiance within the station, earning acclaim and attention from international media. The construction of the Central Park Speech Square, which combines with the park space, includes soapboxes for speakers to stand on and freely express their opinions, exercising their basic human right to freedom of speech.
