Two ecological parks in Nanshan District, part of the Sponge City program, have been opened for use in the past couple of months, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported yesterday.
They are Shenwan Community Park and Xili Ecological Park.
The Shenwan Community Park, which covers 1.16 hectares and is located near Mangrove West Coast housing estate, is the first community park in Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base. Under the Sponge City program, the park has the ability to hold and purify rainwater. Its water tank can hold 283 cubic meters of water that is used for irrigation on greenery and other natural landscape features.
The landmark feature inside the park, a windmill, converts wind energy into motion energy that pumps the rainwater held in the wetland to the water conduit bridge. From there, the water falls from 10 meters above the ground into a pool that leads back into the wetland. The process forms a circle of water reuse.
A 320-meter-long jogging lane, made of permeable concrete material, not only absorbs rainwater instantly but also winds its way between lawns to attract joggers. The 3,500-square-meter lawn, surrounded by trees, retains water to help prevent flooding.
The Xili Ecological Park opened to the public this May. The park is located in Liuxiandong area and covers 230,000 square meters. It was designed to the requirements of the Sponge City program with 100-percent rooftop greenery, permeable pavement and water conservation grasslands.
Nanshan urban administration is upgrading its parks to mark the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Sihai Park in Shekou will open in August after renovation.
Batches of flowers and trees will be planted in street green areas and community parks. More than 50 intersections on Qiaoxiang Road, Shahe West Road, Qianhai Road, Dongbin Road, Houhaibin Road, Xuefu Road and Wanghai Road will be decorated with flowers and plants. Other initiatives for environmental improvement include light views in Shenzhen Bay and along Shennan Boulevard, installation of public toilets and garbage classification facilities in residential compounds as well as construction of disposal bases for kitchen waste.