At the center of the relocation ideas is a broader planning question: Should Kaohsiung continue operating under its current dual-administrative-center structure following the 2010 county-city merger, or use future infrastructure projects to create a more unified administrative hub?

The government aims to finalize all environmental and urban planning reviews by the end of 2026, with the goal of starting physical relocation in 2027.

If successful, the pilot could offer a relatively simple way to improve walking conditions at some of the city’s most exposed transfer points. But the broader debate is likely to center on whether Kaohsiung is prepared to treat shade as essential public infrastructure rather than a seasonal afterthought.

In addition to standard indoor fitness and recreation facilities, the project has drawn attention for including what officials say will be the city’s only rooftop croquet court.

The proposed “Kaohsiung Solution” (高雄方案) for the High-Speed Rail (HSR) southward extension will generate an average of 160 gravel truck trips per day through Sanmin District (三民區). While the exact duration of the project remains undetermined pending a second-stage environmental impact assessment, Kaohsiung City Councilor Cheng Meng-ju (鄭孟洳) warned Tuesday that the scale of excavation will create a multi-year logistical burden for the city.

Full completion is currently projected for 2034, meaning that many people excitedly sharing route maps online may still be waiting close to a decade before the full vision becomes a reality — if it stays on schedule. Some sections could open earlier, but for now, Kaohsiung’s future looks set to be years of traffic headaches.

In previous years, the splash area typically opened closer to summer vacation, but many residents are pushing for an earlier start as Kaohsiung heats up long before “summer.” As temperatures in Kaohsiung hit 31 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the city appears inclined to open the facility as soon as final safety approvals are complete.

According to the city, the redesign includes a pedestrian refuge island, widened sidewalk space, and lane adjustments intended to improve both traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

By KHT Staff. Original reporting by 我是高雄人. KAOHSIUNG — Questions are growing over whether Kaohsiung’s rebuilt Jiuru Bridge (九如橋) can open on…

The site, spanning 45 hectares at the intersection of Sanmin (三民) and Renwu (仁武) districts, underwent a NT$200 million conversion process beginning in 2016. The Liberty Times reports that this project involved the relocation of approximately 70,000 graves. While the park officially opened in 2018, initial public engagement remained low due to lingering cultural stigmas and an entrance route that required passing the city’s primary funeral parlor.