Sports and leisure enjoyed in Yeonsu-gu
The Environmental Corporation of Incheon's Songdo Sports Park
Writer Jang Gyeong-seon
Photographer Jang Hyeon-seon
Songdo Sports Park is an eco-friendly space: the heat generated from incinerating the Incheon citizens’ household waste is used to power the park. In fact, the facilities used to turn household and food waste into resources are actually located near the park.
The park has a large variety of facilities. One day is hardly enough to enjoy them all. In the General Sports Center, the park’s main building, there are facilities for indoor sports. Among them, the swimming pool is the most popular. Thanks to its meticulous management, the quality of the water is superb. The swimming pool is heated using the residual heat from the incinerator, and since it is a public facility, it is not operated for profit. The pool water is changed frequently, making its quality incomparable to that of other swimming pools relying on chemicals. The water temperature is also relatively high compared to other swimming pools.
The depth of the water varies from 0.6m to 1.5m, making it enjoyable for the entire family, including children. Installed in the front is thick glass to allow for natural lighting. Visitors can swim while enjoying the view outside. Next to the swimming pool is a diving pool with a depth of 5m, where visitors can enjoy diving and skin scuba diving. Despite everything, the admission fee remains inexpensive. To use the pool, adults just need to pay 3,000 KRW, while for youths, it is 2,000 KRW. This price also includes admission to the squash court and the fitness center.
Recently, the park constructed a golf course and a driving range. The golf course has nine par-three holes. Although it isn’t that big, it has a great view of Incheon’s offing and Songdo New Town. The golf course offers golf clubs rentals, and the admission fee for the course is inexpensive. During peak season, the fee is just 15,000 KRW during weekdays and 20,000 KRW during weekends.
Songdo Sports Park has a variety of outdoor facilities, too. The tennis court and soccer field with natural grass are open to those with reservations, while the basketball court, volleyball court, foot volleyball court, X-Game center for skateboarding, gate-ball field, lawn bowling field, and boccia field can be used without charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Recently, the park constructed a golf course and a driving range. The golf course has nine par-three holes. Although it isn’t that big, it has a great view of Incheon’s offing and Songdo New Town. The golf course offers golf clubs rentals, and the admission fee for the course is inexpensive. During peak season, the fee is just 15,000 KRW during weekdays and 20,000 KRW during weekends.
Other facilities include the indoor rock-climbing facility on the first floor of the General Sports Center. The facility has two rock faces: a rock face for beginners practicing bouldering, and another 15m rock face for intermediate climbers. Visitors must make a reservation to use the facility, and the admission fee for a day is 5,000 KRW. With Songdo Sports Park, its natural grass fields, and outdoor theme park open all the time, you can enjoy a relaxing picnic when the weather is warm. On the first floor of the General Sports Center, there is a cafeteria which sells snacks. Incheon Subway Line, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every thirty minutes. The shuttle bus service does not run on Mondays.
Inquiries: 032-899-4860
