Tieji Road Park Introduction
The "Tiezhilu Park" in Puzih City, Chiayi County, is a linear park developed through the efforts of the Chiayi County Government and Puzih City, stretching 1,250 meters in length. Some sections of the park used to be a landfill during the Japanese colonial period, and construction of a railway began in 1911, which connected the Sugarcane Factory in Suantou to transport sugar and residents via a small train. At the time, when the Taiwan Sugar Railway was fully operational, it transported goods, coastal catches, and agricultural products from the Chianan Plain into Chiayi City, significantly impacting Taiwan's economy and serving as a crucial contributor to its economic boom. By the early 1960s, passenger and freight routes were reduced, and the small train only ran westward to Puzih. After that, the section west of Puzih Station to Gangqian Road was used solely for transporting sugar. It wasn't until March 1999 that the small train finally became history, after which the tracks were dismantled by the Suantou Sugar Factory. Following the dismantling, the railway lost its tracks and sleepers, as well as its utility, leading to neglect and becoming an area where locals indiscriminately cultivated crops or disposed of garbage and abandoned furniture, causing significant environmental pollution. It was not until the renovation project in Chiayi County that it transformed into the beautiful "Puzih Tiezhilu Park" we see today. This lovely park has undergone comprehensive greening reforms, featuring a linear park with over a kilometer of tree-lined pathways, as well as extensive plantings, walking trails, benches, nighttime lighting, and other amenities. The park officially completed its renovation in September 2004. The beautified Tiezhilu Park not only offers Puzih residents a nostalgic experience reminiscent of chasing the small train to harvest sugarcane, but it has also become an important recreational space and tourist attraction in the area.
