TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei City Government’s plan to renovate Taipei Civic Plaza into an “urban forest park” was approved by the urban design review committee on Thursday, per CNA.

It was the fourth review meeting for planned upgrades, with members offering suggestions such as improvements to a weatherproof corridor connecting the Taipei City Council to Taipei City Hall. If the project passes an upcoming review, contracts could be awarded by the end of September next year, with construction beginning the following month and completion expected by the end of 2028.

Another criticism from the committee related to a proposed children’s play area, which will cover 1,650 square meters near the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The committee said support measures such as changing areas for children, foot-washing basins, and parent waiting areas should be part of the design.

The committee also noted that several large-scale events typically take place at Civic Plaza, such as New Year’s Eve galas, and warned that turning the area into an urban forest park could complicate such events because large vehicles and on-site construction would be more difficult.

Taipei City Government Department of Urban Development Director Jian Se-fang (簡瑟芳) said more discussions were needed to improve the weatherproof corridor. She added that talks are underway about children’s playground equipment and the plaza’s green coverage ratio.

Taipei City Parks Department Deputy Director Tsao Yen-lun (曹彥綸) said the project will be revised based on the committee’s opinions, including discussion of the children’s play area with local civic groups.

Civic Plaza has been in use for 30 years, with municipal authorities budgeting NT$820 million (US$27.3 million) for the upgrade, per Liberty Times.