Refer Report

An artificial turf futsal field and a hard court basketball court were built. There are also stands for spectators to watch their friends exercising and a rest area with parasols. A 300m long urethane track was also laid. Trees and benches were placed here and there, and an open stage was also created for outdoor learning. It looks like Ansan Songho High School’s bare playground has been transformed into a colorful ‘living sports park’. It’s so pretty and attractive that you’ll want to jump right in and exercise.

Songho High School’s playground was renovated through a specialized game-oriented project called ‘Designing the Future Playground’. The goals are to diversify sports facilities, create an atmosphere that encourages exercise, and present a model for sharing with local residents. Principal Hwang Gyo-seon, whom I recently met at Songho High School, said, “I have been working at schools and offices of education for nearly 40 years and researched futuristic playground models. Thanks to the help of the Office of Education and Ansan City, I was able to create a new type of playground.” The construction cost was approximately 1.5 billion won, most of which was paid by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.

The number of classes at Songho High School is 35. The number of students is close to 900. Principal Hwang recalled, “When I took office at the school five years ago, I was troubled when I saw two classes taking physical education classes together in the gymnasium. The space was small but there were a lot of students, so the students were frozen like dolls.” At that time, the playground was a dirt floor with a soccer goal post placed all over it. It was difficult to feel the desire to go out and run in the scorching heat. Principal Hwang said, “I did a lot of research, including studying design programs, and did the design myself,” and added, “I am deeply moved by the realization of what I have been drawing for a long time in reality ahead of my retirement in February next year.”

A new method of sharing playgrounds is also proposed. The school is located in an area with excellent geographical accessibility. It is suitable for use by not only students but also local residents. Principal Hwang said, “The school was built with taxpayers’ money, and the parents are local residents,” and added, “The school and the region can communicate only when the region and the school share facilities.” So, Principal Hwang remodeled the kitchen and bathroom on the first floor of the main building and installed a slide-type barrier on the stairs going from the first to the second floor. Principal Hwang said, “We plan to open not only the playground, but also the first floor of the main building and the existing gymnasium when classes are over and on holidays.” Songho High School is relatively free from noise as there are no apartments right next to it. Principal Hwang said, “We have already installed lights that will brighten up the playground at night,” adding, “If local residents exercise at night, the local nightlife will also change to center around exercise.”

There are quite a few schools that open their playgrounds. However, most are passive, opening only playgrounds on holidays. Principals are reluctant to actively open the school due to the possibility of arbitrary use by local residents, damage to school facilities, and the possibility of crimes such as assault. Principal Hwang said, “Ansan City has decided to send personnel to stay at the school and manage the playground and gymnasium, etc.” and “If local residents use the facilities in a mature manner, the playground will be reborn as a space shared by local residents and students.” He said. The opening ceremony will be held on the 1st.

Source: Korean