By RK Shih/Staff. Image via KH City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung officials are considering whether businesses in the Central Park shopping district could be allowed to extend operations onto sidewalks, as part of a broader effort to revive the area’s fading foot traffic.
The Liberty Times reports that the proposal was raised by Kaohsiung City Councilor Huang Wen-yi (黃文益), who said the district’s street character makes it suitable for outdoor seating and night-time activity. He suggested allowing shops to place tables and chairs on sidewalks, provided pedestrian access and public safety are not affected.
The city’s Economic Development Bureau said it would coordinate with other agencies and present a concrete plan within a month covering flexible use of outdoor space and related management rules.
The Central Park shopping district has lost visitors over time as consumer activity shifted to other parts of the city. Huang said contributing factors included the rise of the Kaohsiung Arena area, high rents, e-commerce, and a lack of product differentiation. He added that the closure and demolition of the Datong Wufu Department Store (大統五福百貨) at the end of February had further reduced foot traffic.
Economic Development Bureau Director Liao Tai-hsiang (廖泰翔) said he generally supports more flexible use of outdoor space, but added that the city would need to address operating hours, space boundaries, and pedestrian flow before moving ahead.
Huang also acknowledged that expanding outdoor business activity could create conflicts with nearby residents, including noise, litter, drinking, and security concerns. Youth Bureau Director Lin Kai-hsuan (林楷軒) said privately organized events had already been matched to the district this month, including hip-hop parties, but were required to end before 10 p.m. to reduce the impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
