By KHT Staff. Images via KH City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — A former railway repair workshop that once helped keep Taiwan’s trains running will begin a new life next month as what local reports describe as Taiwan’s largest semi-indoor family playground.
The playground, built inside part of the former Taiwan Railways Kaohsiung Workshop, is scheduled to open Aug. 8.
The main recreation area covers about 1.5 hectares and includes more than 30 attractions, according to city officials and local reports.
Facilities include climbing areas, slides, swings, water-play areas, sensory games, high-rope equipment, and a large cloud-shaped trampoline. Admission is expected to be free.
The former workshop sits near the boundary between Lingya (苓雅) and Fengshan (鳳山) districts.
The wider railway site covers about 32 hectares and became available for redevelopment after maintenance operations were moved to Chaozhou (潮州) in Pingtung County.
Rather than demolishing the original freight-car workshop, the city retained much of its industrial structure and railway character.
City officials said the project is intended to preserve an important part of Kaohsiung’s transportation history while returning an inactive industrial site to public use.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) heard a briefing on the opening plan this week and asked city agencies to finalize traffic, crowd control, and safety measures.
The city said preparations include shuttle bus arrangements, parking management, drinking-water stations, medical posts, toilets, signs, and public transport guidance.
Final operating hours and opening-day access controls had not been formally announced as of July 31.
