The expansion project of Bakersley Park will commence in August and is set to become the "lungs of the city" in Tainan.

▲The expansion project of Bakersley Memorial Park will be carried out in August, with completion expected by May next year. Once finished, the park will cover a total area of 10 hectares and become the "lungs of the city" in Tainan. (Photo / from the Facebook page of the Tainan Bakersley Memorial Park Sustainable Management Association)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The site of the former No. 18 Park, once a dumping ground for trash, was renamed "Bakersley Memorial Park" and underwent a complete transformation. Since then, it has become an iconic park that has won numerous awards both domestically and internationally. This year marks the 10th anniversary of its renaming, and local residents and volunteer groups who helped create this beautiful park have launched a series of celebration events starting on the 5th to commemorate its birthday. Additionally, the expansion project will begin in August and is expected to be completed by May next year. Upon completion, Bakersley Park will span a total of 10 hectares and become the "lungs of the city" in Tainan.

Located right across from the Tainan Cultural Center, Bakersley Park was originally designated as the site for No. 18 Park. However, due to land ownership issues, development was stalled, and the area was once criticized as a garbage dump. But in 2004, through the joint efforts of citizens and the Tainan City Government, a beautiful park was finally created.

Thanks to the continued efforts of local residents in developing and maintaining the park, Bakersley Park has earned accolades such as one of the nation’s Top 10 Excellent Parks and the National Landscape Award. In 2007, it even received the "Global Excellence in Construction Award," often referred to as the "Oscar of real estate." Bakersley Park has garnered countless awards both in Taiwan and abroad, and local residents take great pride in these recognitions.

Bakersley Park is the source of the Zhuxi Stream in Tainan City and is also a rare habitat for fireflies within an urban park. Every early summer, it attracts many visitors who come to admire the glowing insects. To ensure the sustainable management of Bakersley Park, the second-phase expansion project, covering 5.8 hectares, will commence in August. In the future, Bakersley Park will become Taiwan’s first urban ecological park that preserves a wilderness area.