Nantou's First Sports Center to Begin Construction in June, Featuring Multi-purpose Courts and Gym

(CNA, Reporter Hsiao Po-yang, Nantou County, 19th) The Nantou County Government is planning sports centers in Nantou City, Caotun Township, and Puli Township. Among them, the Nantou City sports center is set to begin construction on June 11 and is scheduled for completion in 2028. The facility, with one basement level and three floors above ground, will include multi-functional spaces for a comprehensive court, a gym, rock climbing, yoga, and table tennis. During the Nantou County Council's regular session today for general interpellation, KMT County Councilor Lin Ju-yang and independent County Councilor Chien Chien-hsiang focused on issues such as the aging population, low birth rate, how Zhongxing New Village can align with local development, and the construction progress of the national sports centers. In response, Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua stated that to improve sports facilities for the public, the county government has planned three 'Lohas' sports centers, with the Nantou City venue starting construction in June. Hsu Shu-hua noted that the Nantou City venue will utilize the site of the old county council building. The Caotun Township sports center is expected to start construction before the end of this year, while the Puli Township sports center has completed public hearings and feasibility assessments and is currently in the preliminary planning stage. Some councilors suggested considering a larger site, but changing the location would require restarting all administrative procedures, which would take over three more years. Therefore, the current location will be used to meet the immediate needs. Chien Chien-hsiang also mentioned that Nantou County's 'slow living' characteristic is well-suited for attracting seniors to move in. He suggested that after the National Development Council (NDC) renovates the old dormitories in Zhongxing New Village, the Nantou County Government should proactively approach the NDC to secure allocation of some or all of the dorms to attract retirees from across Taiwan to move to Nantou County, leveraging its natural beauty to boost the population amidst limited newborn numbers. Hsu Shu-hua said that Zhongxing New Village is an area with great development potential, and the NDC is currently adjusting and releasing the dormitories. The county government hopes to diversify the use of the space through comprehensive planning. In addition to the existing cultural and creative base, they also hope to attract different customer groups. The county government will actively negotiate with the NDC; if the medical industry can also be introduced, it will attract more seniors to reside there, creating new business opportunities. (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu)