Youth Park Introduction
Youth Park is a comprehensive open park in the Greater Taipei metropolitan area, located in the western side of Wanhua District, Taipei City. It is bordered by Guoxing Road to the east, Xinping Youth Road to the west, Shuigen Road to the south, and Youth Road to the north, covering an area of 24.44 hectares. The land dates back to the Japanese colonial period, originally serving as a military training ground before being converted into an airport, referred to as South Airport due to its location at the southern end of Taipei City, in contrast to the northern Songshan Airport. In 1953, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Defense, the Taipei Country Club established the Taipei Golf Club. On Youth Day in 1974, following a directive from the Executive Yuan, the Taipei City Government took over the golf course, transforming it into Youth Park. The official handover occurred in October of the same year, and construction was completed in September 1977, making it a popular leisure destination for Taipei citizens. The park features comprehensive facilities, lush greenery, and beautiful scenery. There is a (ticket-required) golf course along Guoxing Road, and eight swimming pools along Shuigen Road. The park's southern side has six tennis courts, and the pool building includes a billiard room. Free sports and recreational facilities include basketball courts, badminton courts, baseball fields, an ice rink, a tennis practice wall, and outdoor sports fields, distributed throughout the park. Additionally, the park has educational and social service facilities such as a bonsai pavilion, a reading room, an audio-visual classroom, an outdoor music stage, and a public safety office to serve citizens and tourists. Apart from these hardware service facilities, the park's landscape planning, green space configuration, and vegetation distribution form the core of the park's beautification. At the main entrance, the flowerbed is arranged in a radial pattern, adorned with vibrant flowers (such as balsam, cockscomb, string of bananas, cigar flower, butterfly vine, and golden dew drop), complemented by shrubs like azaleas, bougainvillea, and Chinese junipers, creating a sensation of entering a place filled with colorful blooms. The central area of the park is extensively covered with turf, lush and tidy, while surrounding banyan trees create a dense green shade tunnel, offering a view of a distant sea of greenery. Wandering through this area feels like being bathed in a forest, rejuvenating both body and mind, with many citizens exercising there in the mornings, promoting health. At the back of the lawn area, waterways connect to the Nine-Curved Bridge on the northeastern side of the park. Aquatic plants are widely planted on both sides of the pond, with fountains adding to the scenic beauty. Additionally, maple trees are extensively planted on the eastern side of the baseball field, forming a mature maple grove. During the leaf-falling season, the colorful maple leaves contribute to the winter scenery. The surrounding areas of the park are also adorned with azaleas, blooming vibrantly in spring, enhancing the park's beauty. Throughout the park, there are numerous trees, shrubs, and lawns, interspersed with flowerbeds, benches, pavilions, health walking paths, and sculptures. The wide paths and various scenic spots make it a model of a large comprehensive park. Youth Park's expansive area and diverse, well-equipped facilities provide a space for citizens to relax, exercise, engage in cultural education, and rehabilitate, catering to people of all ages, whether disabled or healthy. Beyond creating scenic beauty, the park emphasizes the involvement of the public in enjoying, caring for, and appreciating the fruits of municipal construction.
