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, Xinpu Youth Road to the west, Shuiyuan Road to the south, and Youth Road to the north, covering an impressive area of 24.44 hectares. The land has its origins in the Japanese colonial period, initially serving as a military training ground before being transformed into an airport. Since it is situated in the southern end of Taipei City and in contrast to the northern Songshan Airport, it is referred to as the Southern Airport. In 1953, the Taipei Country Club collaborated with the Ministry of National Defense to establish the Taipei Golf Club. In 1974, on Youth Day, the Taipei City Government took over the golf course in accordance with an Executive Yuan directive, renovating it into Youth Park. The park was officially taken over in October of that same year and completed in September 1977, becoming a popular leisure spot for the residents of Taipei City. The park features complete facilities, lush greenery, and beautiful landscapes. Sports amenities include a (ticketed) golf course along Guoxing Road, eight swimming pools located along Shuiyuan Road, and six tennis courts on the southern side of the park. The swimming pool building also houses a billiard room. Free recreational facilities include basketball courts, badminton courts, baseball fields, an ice skating rink, tennis practice walls, and outdoor sports fields located throughout the park. Additionally, the park provides educational and social service facilities such as a bonsai house, a reading room, an audio-visual classroom, an outdoor music stage, and a police station to serve citizens and visitors. Beyond the various hardware facilities, the park's landscape planning, greenery arrangements, and plant distribution are key components in beautifying the park. The main entrance of the park features a radiating floral arrangement, planted with vibrant flowers including balsam, cockscomb, string of hearts, cigar plant, butterfly flower, and gold dew plant. The back is adorned with shrubs such as azaleas, bougainvillea, copperleaf, podocarpus, and other flowering shrubs, creating a sense of vibrant colors and beauty upon entrance. The central area of the park is populated with lush grass, forming a green carpet, neatly maintained, surrounded by banyan trees creating a shady green tunnel. From a distance, one can gaze upon a sea of greenery, feeling as if immersed in a forest bath, rejuvenating both body and mind. Beside the lawn area, coniferous trees (Araucaria) are widely planted, and many citizens engage in physical activities there in the mornings, contributing to their health. Behind the lawn, waterways connect to the Nine-Curved Bridge on the northeastern side of the park. Both sides of the pond are planted with aquatic plants, with fountains throughout creating an enchanting landscape. Additionally, a maple tree forest is densely planted to the east of the baseball field, which becomes a magnificent sight during the autumn leaf-falling season. Surrounding the park, azaleas bloom vibrantly in the spring, further enhancing the park's beauty. The park is also filled with trees, shrubs, grass lawns, flower beds, benches, pavilions, health walking paths, and sculptures. The park paths are wide and scenic, making it an exemplary large-scale comprehensive park. Youth Park's vast area and diverse, complete facilities provide the public with space for relaxation, sports, education, and rehabilitation, catering to all ages from youth to the elderly, including those with disabilities or good health, allowing everyone to enjoy it. Besides creating beautiful landscapes, the park must engage the public to appreciate, cherish, and enjoy the fruits of municipal construction together.
