Ilwol Arboretum Registered as Suwon's First 'Public Arboretum'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-seong] Suwon Special City announced on the 22nd that the Ilwol Arboretum, which opened in May, has completed registration as a 'public arboretum.' It is Suwon's first registered arboretum and Gyeonggi Province's 16th arboretum.

In accordance with Article 9 of the 'Act on the Creation and Promotion of Arboretums and Gardens,' to register as an arboretum, one must secure at least 1,000 species of tree genetic resources and be equipped with facilities for preservation and propagation research, management facilities, and specialized management personnel.

The city planned the 'creation of an urban-style arboretum' in 2014 to provide citizens with a comfortable place to experience nature, and held a 'Suwon Arboretum Creation Project Review Meeting' in July that year. From the planning stage of the arboretum project, the city equipped facilities in accordance with the registration standards for public arboretums.

After preparations, construction began in November 2020, was completed in December of the following year, and opened on May 19 this year. Finally, on November 7, registration as a public arboretum was completed.

The Ilwol Arboretum, built within Ilwol Park in Cheoncheon-dong, Jang-an District, on a scale of 101,500 square meters, houses 2,016 species and approximately 52,000 plants. It has surpassed 260,000 visitors by the end of October and is receiving love from citizens.

A city official said, "We will enrich the Ilwol Arboretum, Suwon's first registered arboretum, as a 'tourism landmark' that grows together through active exchange with other botanical gardens."