Pingtung County Min Park Introduction
In 1909, the Pingtung Sugar Factory began operations, driving the development of the agricultural industry on the north bank of the She-Shui River. The county government transformed part of the Taiwan Sugar Corporation's land into "Taiwan Sugar County People's Park," which opened 9 hectares of land for public use on October 15, 2018. The park features historical sites of the pulp mill, fun themed playgrounds, a sugar industry timeline water feature, a large plaza, and expansive grasslands for relaxation. To highlight the significance of Taiwan Sugar in Pingtung, the county government integrated the concept of ladybugs, which can deter pests, into the playground design, inspired by the sugarcane fields planted by the sugar factory in its early years. Numerous ladybug figures were created, embodying the courage and endless hope of pursuing dreams, thus infusing the playground with both historical and cultural significance while promoting the idea of embracing challenges. Additionally, as part of the follow-up plan for the 2019 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Pingtung, several lantern displays from the festival were moved to the park, brightening it once again. Today, to provide a more comfortable and engaging recreational space for residents, the "Pingtung County People's Park," which took over five years to complete at a total cost of NT$390 million, officially opened on February 5, 2021. The county government revitalized the abandoned remnants of the old Taiwan Sugar pulp mill, integrating them into a new blue and green belt along the She-Shui River, creating Taiwan's first park centered on industrial heritage with a comprehensive waterfront corridor. The park spans 20 hectares, incorporating historical, cultural, ecological, and scenic features, and its unique design creates a new landscape that bridges the past and present, allowing the old industrial site to regenerate into a diverse ecological recreational experience.
