The Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone is adding more parks to the city map to upgrade local living standards and improve the environment.

The zone plans to build 38 small parks in urban areas this year, with a total investment of 55 million yuan ($8.31 million). Among them, 35 are pocket parks, which are tiny green areas usually built on irregular pieces of land. The other three will occupy larger areas and offer more supporting facilities, according to the local authorities.

Twenty-five pocket parks were put into use on Oct 15.

The park construction project is one of the first 16 livelihood enhancement projects promoted by the zone's administration this year. The parks will provide more space for local residents to exercise, will upgrade the local environment and will enhance people's quality of life.

"There was no park near my home in previous years. We had to walk along a large road, which was not safe and the air quality was bad," said a local woman surnamed Liu.

The park near Liu's home, named Zhiwei Park, involved 6 million yuan in investment. Being people-friendly and natural, and incorporating sponge city technology were key concepts considered in the design phase.

"I spend more than two hours in Zhiwei Park every day. It is a quiet and comfortable place," Liu said.

The zone applied high standards in the park construction processes. The parks not only have green land but also all the necessary facilities.

Landscapes in the Zhezhi Yuangui Park, a pocket park in the zone, were inspired by folded paper. The spaces for people and plants are integrated to ensure comfort.

In addition, the plants in the parks were selected to better decorate the city and roads, according to Wang Wei, a staff member from the greenery project office of the zone's Urban Construction Bureau.

"We will take measures to enhance the zone's living environment, upgrade city living standards and bring more happiness to local residents," said Wang Gang, deputy director of the bureau. "We will promote city image upgrade work with international thinking, to build an environmentally friendly high-tech zone."

Zhuang Jian contributed to this story.

(China Daily 11/07/2017 page12）