Hong Kong – Public spaces transformed from drainage facilities in To Kwa Wan and Tai Kok Tsui open today (with photos)

     To Kwa Wan Promenade and Hoi Fai Road Promenade in Tai Kok Tsui, which were transformed from part of the exisiting facilities of the Drainage Services Department (DSD), are open for public use from today (December 21).
      
     A spokesman for the DSD said, “To implement the ‘single site, multiple use’ initiative, the DSD has enhanced some areas in the existing drainage facilities into public spaces to improve accessibility of the waterfront and provide a quality waterfront environment for the public to enjoy.”
      
     To Kwa Wan Promenade, which has been converted from an emergency vehicular and maintenance access of the To Kwa Wan Preliminary Treatment Works on the waterfront, connects the adjacent Hoi Sham Park. The promenade spans about 140 metres and covers an area of about 1 200 square metres. It features a 12m-tall mural of the DSD mascot named Drainy, and unique seating areas. The award-winning designs of the Design Competition for the Public Art at To Kwa Wan Promenade and previous manhole cover design competitions are also on display.
      
     While the dry weather flow interceptor at the Cherry Street box culvert in Tai Kok Tsui has been substantially completed, the DSD released an about 85m-long space atop the interceptor to develop an extension of the Hoi Fai Road Promenade. The newly extended section of the Hoi Fai Road Promenade covers an area of about 360 sq m and provides leisure space for the public with benches and green spaces.
      
     Members of the public can get to To Kwa Wan Promenade by walking for about 10 minutes from Exit D of the To Kwa Wan MTR Station via Hoi Sham Park or take various bus and minibus routes. As for the newly extended Hoi Fai Road Promenade, it can be reached by walking for about five minutes from Exit A of the Olympic Station, or by taking various bus and minibus routes to the public transport interchange at Island Harbourview and then walking for about five minutes.