Building a child-friendly city! Taichung is the second-largest city in Taiwan, with a relatively young population. During today’s (17th) municipal meeting, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen—currently the only female mayor among the six municipalities and a mother herself—emphasized the city government’s dedication to promote the “Parent-Child Centers in Every District” initiative and expand children’s sports facilities, to offer safe and diverse spaces for children’s growth. By revitalizing existing venues, establishing parent-child centers, and launching the country’s first Child Sports Center, the city ensures every child can thrive in a joyful environment. These efforts have drawn attention from leaders of other counties and cities who seek to learn from Taichung’s success. Notably, the combined number of visits to Taichung’s Civil and Child Sports Centers surpassed 4 million in 2024, a result Mayor Lu described as “deeply reassuring.”

Mayor Lu said that in recent years, the Taichung City Government has actively fostered a child-friendly environment by promoting supportive policies and infrastructure, encouraging young parents to embrace parenthood with confidence. As the only female mayor among the six municipalities and a mother herself, she deeply understands the needs parents face in raising children. To provide children with an optimal environment for growth, Mayor Lu has prioritized the establishment of Parent-Child Centers across all districts since taking office. To date, 17 centers have been established, with the goal of reaching 30 by the end of next year, fulfilling the vision of a parent-child center in every district. These centers not only offer spaces for play, learning, and activities, but also foster stronger parent-child interaction and inclusive family experiences. She expressed gratitude to all municipal departments for their support, such as repurposing underutilized spaces and revitalizing resources. These accessible and well-equipped facilities reflect the city government’s commitment to building a family-friendly city through concrete initiatives.

Mayor Lu also highlighted Taichung’s proactive and innovative approach to promoting children’s sports. In the past, most facilities at Civil Sports Centers were designed primarily for adults. In response, the city government has upgraded newly constructed centers into “Civil and Child Sports Centers,” while also pioneering the establishment of the first-ever “Child Sports Centers” in Taiwan—dedicated spaces tailored specifically for children. Distinctive Child Sports Centers have been established in several districts, including Shalu, Xitun, Taiping, Wuri, and West Districts. These centers feature trampoline zones, climbing facilities, and martial arts classes for children, offering age-appropriate and engaging physical activities across the city. In 2024, visits to Taichung’s Civil and Child Sports Centers surpassed 4 million, a testament to the strong public support for these initiatives. The success of these centers has positioned Taichung as a model for other cities across the country.

At today’s municipal meeting, Director Liao Ching-Chih of the Social Affairs Bureau and Director You Chih-Hsiang of the Sports Bureau delivered a special presentation titled “Creating Joyful Spaces for Children – Parent-Child Centers and Child Sports Centers.” Director Liao emphasized that Taichung’s Parent-Child Centers are built around the core concept of “co-parenting through play,” reflecting the city’s commitment to fostering a family-friendly environment. The centers are designed around three primary pillars: child development, family support, and community engagement. They provide a wide range of free services for children aged 0 to 6 and their caregivers, including play areas, parent-child activities, parenting education, and educational toy lending. Since Mayor Lu took office in 2019, the number of Parent-Child Centers in Taichung has grown from just four to 17. The city government aims to achieve its goal of “a Parent-Child Center in every district” by 2026, continuing its efforts to build a happy and friendly environment for raising children.

Director Liao explained that each Parent-Child Center in Taichung is thoughtfully designed to reflect the local culture and spatial characteristics of its district. For example, the Daya Parent-Child Center incorporates wheat-themed elements to help children understand the journey of agricultural products from farm to table. The Xitun Parent-Child Center revitalizes the space of the Hezuo Market, transforming it into a miniature marketplace where children can take on roles such as little shoppers, store clerks, and chefs. The Shigang Parent-Child Center features interactive AI technology, introducing children to innovative, tech-based learning experiences. The Heping Parent-Child Center focuses on connecting with indigenous communities, enhancing outreach services and promoting local tribal culture.

Regarding the development of children’s sports, Director You noted that since Mayor Lu took office, Taichung has launched the country’s first-ever “Child Sports Centers.” To date, the city has established six Civil and Child Sports Centers and four dedicated Child Sports Centers. These facilities are designed to support the physical and mental development of children by integrating six core features and leveraging surrounding resources. For example, the North District Civil Sports Center houses three swimming pools under one roof and offers water-based programs such as synchronized swimming and the “Bubble Adventure Camp.” The Chaoma Civil Sports Center features regulation badminton courts and regularly hosts children’s badminton classes and tournaments. The Dali Civil and Child Sports Center includes squash courts. The Tanzi Civil and Child Sports Center combines ball sports, aquatic activities, and land-based instruction, encouraging children to develop a broad range of physical skills.

Director You further noted that the Taichung City Government has been actively repurposing underutilized spaces to establish dedicated sports facilities for children. For example, the Shalu Child Sports Center features Taichung’s first trampoline facility, while the Xidadun Child Sports Center includes a climbing wall for training and recreational use. Several new centers are also set to open with unique themes. The Fengyuan Civil and Child Sports Center will focus on tee-ball and pickleball facilities. The Qingshui Civil and Child Sports Center will spotlight children’s extreme sports. The Taiping Civil and Child Sports Center will integrate forest adventure courses. The Wuri Civic Sports Center will serve as an indoor-outdoor baseball paradise for children. The West District Child Sports Center is planned as a youth training base for judo, taekwondo, and other combat sports. Through these efforts, the city government aims to help children build exercise habits and confidence from an early age. To date, the Taichung City Government has invested over NT$6 billion in these facilities. In 2024 alone, the combined usage of the Civil and Child Sports Centers exceeded 4 million visits—demonstrating Taichung’s successful transformation into a child-friendly sports city.