New Taipei City Enhances Park Greening to Combat Urban Heat and Promote Sustainability

Huade Park in Banqiao District, New Taipei City, has received a green makeover with the addition of diverse, heat-absorbing plant species. This initiative aligns with the national "Greening Doubling Plan" aimed at mitigating the effects of rising urban temperatures and enhancing the city's ecological resilience.

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The city government, in line with relevant plans, has recently strengthened the green coverage under the trees in Huade Park, using heat-resistant and shade-tolerant plants to absorb urban residual heat.

According to Lin Chunde, Director of the New Taipei City Landscape Office, the park's landscaping now features heat-tolerant and shade-loving plants. These include colorful celosia, summer snapdragons, and ever-blooming pentas, creating a vibrant visual display. Complementing these are silver-striped mondo grass and nephrolepis ferns, which increase green cover under tree canopies, effectively absorbing residual urban heat and providing a more comfortable environment for children and the elderly who frequent the park.

The landscaping efforts extend beyond Huade Park. To celebrate the recently concluded National Paralympics Games hosted by New Taipei City, the Landscape Office designed a multi-layered floral display at a traffic island in front of the Banqiao Station. This arrangement, featuring plants like celosia, copperleaf, pentas, summer snapdragons, and various ferns, forms the Special Olympics logo, symbolizing the city's commitment to "sustainable net-zero" goals and its vision as a "friendly sports city."

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In response to the 'sustainable net-zero' and 'friendly sports city' goals of New Taipei City, the Landscape Office used diverse layered plantings at the Banqiao Station traffic island to present the Special Olympics logo.

Lin Chunde highlighted that these greening efforts, including the enhanced tree canopy in Huade Park and the floral displays at Banqiao Station, contribute to a noticeable cooling effect and carbon sequestration. He emphasized that the growth and maintenance of each plant play a vital role in regulating the microclimate and bolstering urban ecological resilience, aiming to ensure residents feel a sense of greenery wherever they go.

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The tree canopy greening in Huade Park and the Special Olympics landscape at Banqiao Station and Wenhua Road, under the influence of extreme weather, help reduce perceived temperature and sequester carbon.