Shenzhen Parks Win Double Honors at World Urban Parks 'Oscars'
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Shenzhen's urban park system has achieved international acclaim by securing two major awards from the World Urban Parks association (WUP), often dubbed the "Oscars of the park industry." Shenzhen Bay Park received the Large Urban Park Award for its successful ecological restoration over more than two decades, while Biaojsan Sports Park in Futian District won the Excellence in New Park Development Award after opening in 2023. This marks the first time Shenzhen parks have swept two categories simultaneously in this global competition, which evaluates entries across five regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Key Points
- Shenzhen Bay Park, situated across the water from Hong Kong's Mai Po Marshes, was honored for transforming former wasteland into a thriving coastal ecosystem and critical migratory bird habitat
- The park's "Lights Out for Birds" initiative implements light pollution controls to protect migratory species that stop at the site annually, with about 100,000 birds recorded
- Biaojsan Sports Park opened in 2023 in Futian District, pioneering a "rail plus park" model that efficiently utilizes space above metro infrastructure
- The free-to-enter sports park features 5G smart running tracks, drone delivery services, and a solar-storage-charging station for electric vehicles
- WUP serves as the authoritative body for urban parks, open spaces, and leisure facilities, recognizing outstanding contributions in green space development globally
Why It Matters
The back-to-back wins position Shenzhen as a model for integrating ecological conservation with smart urban infrastructure, potentially influencing park development standards across the Asia-Pacific region . For Hong Kong residents, the recognition of Shenzhen Bay Park—visible from the SAR across Shenzhen Bay—underscores cross-border environmental cooperation, as the park serves as a vital ecological buffer for shared wetland habitats .
The back-to-back wins position Shenzhen as a model for integrating ecological conservation with smart urban infrastructure, potentially influencing park development standards across the Asia-Pacific region . For Hong Kong residents, the recognition of Shenzhen Bay Park—visible from the SAR across Shenzhen Bay—underscores cross-border environmental cooperation, as the park serves as a vital ecological buffer for shared wetland habitats .