Firm： Tus-Design Group. Wuxi

Type： Landscape + Planning › Public Park Playground Waterway/Wetland

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2022

SIZE： 1,000,000 +

BUDGET： Undisclosed

Situated in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China, the Daxi Port Lake Bay Children's Friendly Park is nestled alongside Gonghu Bay, a scenic part of the vast Lake Tai — the third-largest freshwater lake in the country. In 2007, Lake Tai suffered a severe blue algae pollution outbreak, leading to city-wise widespread water contamination and water shortages. This crisis initiated the ecological restoration and rehabilitation of Daxi Port. The improved ecological environment has spurred regional development and population growth, leading to a heightened need among the nearby communities and urban residents for more vibrant park spaces where they can engage in leisure and social activities. Existing parks urgently required improvement.

The park is a long, strip-shaped space, stretching approximately 1300 meters in length and varying between 20 to 50 meters in width, encompassing two triangular areas that are particularly challenging to utilize. The park's facilities were outdated, with a lack of prominent signage, significant variations in ground levels, obstructed views, and a scarcity of spaces for lingering and activities, all contributing to its dormant state.

The park's design, following the philosophy of ‘Child-Friendly + Eco-First’, incorporated the natural elements of the site. Various thematic ecological scenes were created, using diverse wetlands and plant types, to establish an educational and recreational space for children that fosters a connection with nature.

The team introduced nearly a hundred varieties of plants, with a focus on enhancing the diversity of shoreline plants and aquatic species. This effort has created numerous microhabitats for animals, increasing ecological diversity and species resilience. Various wild bird species, including six that are nationally protected, have been observed here, making bird-human interactions a daily park occurrence.

The team paid great attention to the desires of children, parents, and teachers. By tailoring the design to the site's unique characteristics, they transformed it into a more child-friendly environment. The park now features an ecological beach, a wetland classroom, a grass-stepped theater, a sail-themed birdwatching platform, an interactive water wheel, and other playful and educational spaces for children, rebuilding the connection between children and nature.

The park-wide lakeside walking path embodies the sustainable concept of “low-carbon slow movement.” It not only offers safe and accessible routes for visitors of all ages but also creates a multi-dimensional visual corridor that enhances the overall park experience.

The design team revitalized the park, reconnecting children with nature and enhancing human-nature relationships. Since its opening six months ago, the park has hosted numerous natural science activities, engaging nearly a thousand young people and children. These experiential activities aim to inspire a new generation to become future guardians of our natural ecological environment.

The park has also become a multifunctional "living room" for citizens and tourists, acting as the city's ecological backyard. It stands as a testament to the successful pollution control and ecological restoration of Lake Tai. With its rich ecological experiences and activity spaces, the park creates a unique sense of place and evokes respect for the water bodies we depend upon.

Lead Designers: Dawei Ni

Design team: Minye Zhong, Yue Zhu, Lei Xiang, Lin Zhang, Xi Chen, Dan Shi, Chenyan Zhu, Hui Wang, Xiaoxin Ma, Dagong Wei, Huifang Sun

Photography copyright: ZYStudio, Wuxi Daxi Port Wetland Construction Management Co., LTD