Tiezhilu Park Introduction
Tiezhi Road Park in Puzi City, Chiayi County, is a linear park planned through the efforts of the Chiayi County Government and Puzi City, stretching 1,250 meters in length. Some sections of this road were once a landfill during the Japanese colonial period and were transformed into a railway in 1911, originally serving as a small train line transporting sugar cane and passengers from the garlic sugar factory. When the Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s railway was fully operational, it was used to transport goods, coastal catches, and agricultural products from the Chianan Plain into Chiayi City, significantly impacting the economy of Taiwan and playing a crucial role in its economic growth. It wasn't until the early 1960s that passenger and freight services were reduced, and the small train's route was changed to terminate at Puzi. After that, the section west of Puzi Railway Station to Gangqian Road was only used for transporting sugar cane. The small train finally ceased operation in March 1999, and the railway was dismantled thereafter. Following the dismantling, the railway lost its tracks and wooden sleepers, and consequently its utility, leading to neglect, overgrowth, and becoming an area where locals disposed of vegetables, trash, and abandoned furniture, resulting in severe environmental pollution. It wasn’t until the improvement project by Chiayi County that it was transformed into the beautiful Tiezhi Road Park we see today. This lovely park has undergone comprehensive greening reform along the route. In addition to the park's tree-lined path spanning over a kilometer, it is enhanced by extensive landscaping, artificial walkways, benches, and nighttime lighting, officially completed in September 2004. The beautified Tiezhi Road Park not only offers the citizens of Puzi a nostalgic experience reminiscent of chasing the small train and harvesting sugar cane but also serves as an important recreational area and tourist attraction in the local community.
