Kaohsiung Green Park: A Feast of Grasslands, Lakes & Birds

　Once a golf course, the Kaohsiung Green Park（高雄果嶺自然公園）has been revitalized into a space for city residents to reconnect with nature. The park connects Chengcing Lake（澄清湖）, Shuanghu Forest Park（雙湖森林公園）, and Jinshi Lake（金獅湖）, forming an ecological corridor. Its design aims to create a habitat mosaic, showcasing open grasslands, ponds, woodlands, and gentle hills. 

　Kaohsiung Green Park has become a vibrant wildlife estuary! Common moorhens glide smoothly through lush aquatic plants, while the sweet aroma of common orange jasmine blossoms fills the air with a gentle breeze. Light-vented bulbuls flit happily over the grass, and cattle egrets gather among the wetlands. Crested serpent eagles and crested goshawks soar above Chengcing and Jinshi Lakes. Squirrels actively move through the tree canopy, spreading seeds and enhancing biodiversity. Seeing this beautiful landscape restored and thriving in natural harmony is truly inspiring.

　Walking along the trails, visitors can observe the changing seasons reflected in the park's vegetation: the fragrant blooms of common orange jasmine and sweet osmanthus in spring; lush greenery in midsummer; cotton trees flowering in autumn; and cascades of falling leaves in winter.

　The park has become the city's most accessible outdoor educational space. By enforcing zoning rules and sustainable management practices, it maintains ecological health while providing a peaceful place for recreation. Guided tours educate visitors about environmental sustainability, while reminding bird photographers to keep a respectful distance. The focus has shifted from tourism to ecological awareness, fostering a stronger connection to nature and marking a significant achievement in environmental education.

果嶺自然公園生態走讀 草原、湖泊與鳥的綠色饗宴
文/李曉萍  

晨光灑落草坡，微風掠過七里香，紅冠水雞穿梭水草間。這片由高爾夫球場蛻變而成的「高雄果嶺自然公園」讓城市與自然重新連結。

公園宛如一條綠色絲帶，串連澄清湖、雙湖森林公園與金獅湖，成為南高雄重要的生態廊道。園區以「棲地鑲嵌」為核心設計，融合草原、水塘、樹林與丘陵。草原上白頭翁悠閒踱步；水塘的水生植物間，黃頭鷺等水鳥現蹤；高地丘陵上，大冠鷲與鳳頭蒼鷹自在盤旋。

果嶺不再是球道，而是動物們的走道，大冠鷲從澄清湖至金獅湖覓食，松鼠沿林木穿梭，植物種子隨著「動物攜帶」傳播，實現跨區物種交流，豐富整體的生物多樣性，復活土地的生機。

循著步道前行，四季景色由園區植物描繪。春有七里香與桂花飄香，盛夏鬱鬱蔥蔥，秋日木棉花開，冬天落葉如詩。

如今，這片綠地成為市民最親近的自然教室。園方以分區管制、低干預設計維持生態與遊憩的平衡。透過生態導覽，讓市民了解環保永續的意義，也有民眾主動提醒拍鳥者保持距離。從遊客到守護者，人與自然的關係正悄然轉變，也是生態教育最寶貴的成果。