But there are concerns over facilities, and not everyone agrees the city needs another park so close to Chengcing Lake
KAOHSIUNG – The more than 60-year-old Kaohsiung Golf and Country Club (高雄高爾夫球場) near Chengcing Lake (澄清湖) will reopen in October as a free public park, but UDN reports that city councilors are warning that a lack of parking, public restrooms and transport planning could mar the debut.
The 70-hectare site will be renamed “Green Natural Park” (果嶺自然公園). The course was repossessed due to what the city claimed were numerous violations that included illegal pesticide use, poor soil and water conservation, and failure to file safety reports – allegations the previous operators strongly deny. The club closed in November 2023, and city officials have since begun transforming the grounds into a flood basin and linking it with nearby Shuanghu Park (雙湖公園) as part of a broader “Greater Chengcing Lake Park” (澄清湖大公園) vision modeled on New York’s Central Park.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) has promoted the project as a landmark in urban renewal. After a recent visit, Chen said it took him three hours to walk the 18-hole layout, and promised new trails, wetland restoration, outdoor concerts and corporate ESG partnerships to support maintenance. Visitors, city officials added, will be able to enjoy sweeping views of Chengcing Lake and the Grand Hotel.
City councilors Chiu Chun-hsien (邱俊憲) and Chen Hui-wen (陳慧文), however, found shortcomings during recent site visits. They pointed to a shortage of signage, narrow access roads, insufficient toilets and limited parking. The city’s Transportation Bureau (交通局) said three existing lots offer 700 spaces and YouBike stations are in place, though no bus service reaches the park.
The Parks Department (工務局公園處) said new signs, lighting and restrooms are under construction, with four pedestrian entrances planned.
The course, built in 1961 with 18 international-standard holes, was one of southern Taiwan’s oldest, and closing it was a controversial move. Whether it deserved its fate or not, the curtain has closed on the golf course above Chengcing Lake. Its rolling green slopes, a newly dug pond, and a 60-hectare expanse are set to be reborn as the city’s second-largest public park.
Last week the Liberty Times quoted City Councilor Chiu Chun-hsien (邱俊憲) as calling the project “a victory for public space.” Done well, Chiu said, the new park could link seamlessly with Chengcing Lake and turn the area into Greater Kaohsiung’s green heart.
The Opposition
Not everyone agrees with Councilor Chiu. The area is already home to a major park: Chengcing Lake, and some argue the heat and the inconvenience of the location almost guarantee the new park will be underused.
Calls to turn the golf course over to new management, or to allow the city to continue running it as a public golf course, were rejected. The city said the lease had expired and the land would better serve more residents as a public park. A 1.2-hectare detention basin capable of holding 26,000 tons of water has been added to cut flood risks and protect Chengcing Lake. A new road leading directly into the grounds is also under consideration, which officials say could help ease traffic congestion between Niaosung and Renwu.
Meanwhile, critics also highlighted problems at Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park (高雄都會公園), a 95-hectare green space in Qiaotou (橋頭) and Nanzih (楠梓) districts. Uneven sidewalks and tree roots have caused falls, residents say. The Parks Department has budgeted NT$35 million, with NT$28.7 million from the National Land Administration (國土管理署), to rebuild 1.7 kilometers of walkways starting next year.