Youth Park Introduction
Youth Park is a comprehensive open park located in the western side of Wanhua District, Taipei City, within the Greater Taipei metropolitan area. It covers an area of 24.44 hectares and is bordered by Guoxing Road to the east, Xinpian Youth Road to the west, Shuiyuan Road to the south, and Youth Road to the north. The land has its origins in the Japanese occupation period, initially serving as a military training ground before being transformed into an airport. Due to its location at the southern end of Taipei City, in contrast to the northern Songshan Airport, it was 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. On Youth Day in 1974, under the directive of the Executive Yuan, the Taipei City Government took over the golf course and transformed it into Youth Park. The official handover occurred in October of the same year, and it was completed in September 1977, becoming a popular recreational spot for the citizens of Taipei. The park is well-equipped with facilities and lush greenery, offering scenic beauty. Sports facilities include a golf course along Guoxing Road (which charges for entry), eight swimming pools along Shuiyuan Road, and six tennis courts on the southern side of the park. The swimming pool building features a billiards room. Free recreational facilities available include basketball courts, badminton courts, baseball fields, an ice skating rink, a tennis practice wall, and outdoor sports fields scattered throughout the park. Additionally, the park houses educational and social service facilities such as a bonsai hall, reading room, audiovisual classroom, outdoor music stage, and a police station to serve citizens and visitors. Beyond the various hardware services, the park's landscape planning, vegetation arrangement, and planting distribution are key aspects of enhancing the park's beauty. The main entrance of the park features a flower bed arranged in a radiating pattern, planted with colorful flowers (such as impatiens, cockscomb, string of flowers, cigar flower, butterfly flower, and golden dew drop). Behind this are shrubs including azaleas, bougainvillea, croton, Araucaria, and herbaceous plants, giving visitors a vibrant and stunning feeling upon entering the park. The central area of the park is extensively covered with grass, creating a lush and tidy green carpet surrounded by banyan trees, forming a shaded tunnel. At a distance, one can see a sea of greenery, and wandering through it feels like being in a forest bath, refreshing both body and mind. The lawn area is also accompanied by coniferous forests (Araucaria), where many citizens exercise in the morning, benefiting their health. Behind the lawn area, a waterway connects to the Nine-Bend Bridge on the northeastern side of the park. On both sides of the pond, aquatic plants are abundantly planted, with fountains scattered throughout, enhancing the scenic beauty. Furthermore, maples are widely planted on the eastern side of the baseball field, forming a maple forest that showcases striking fall foliage. During spring, blooming azaleas add vibrant colors to the park’s scenic landscape. The park is richly endowed with trees, shrubs, and grass, interspersed with floral beds, benches, pavilions, health trails, and sculptures. The park paths are wide and present numerous points of interest, making it an excellent example of a large comprehensive park. Youth Park, with its vast area and diverse, well-equipped facilities, provides citizens with opportunities for recreation, sports, education, and rehabilitation. From youth to the elderly, whether disabled or healthy, everyone can enjoy its offerings. Beyond creating beautiful scenery, the park must also engage the public in appreciating, protecting, and enjoying the achievements of municipal construction.
