Miaoli County Community Planner On-site Guidance Achievement Conference: Magistrate Chung Affirms Community-led Creation of Friendly Environments

On the 29th, Miaoli County Government hosted the成果 event for the 114th annual (2025) Community Planner On-site Guidance Program at the Houlong Xizhou Community Activity Center. The event honored communities excelling in simple greening initiatives and recognized 'Community Experts' for their contributions. Community performances, guided tours of Xizhou Community, and static exhibitions were held, bringing together community partners and local stakeholders to witness the achievements of resident-led planning, consensus-building, and local revitalization.

Magistrate Chung Dong-jin praised community residents for collaboratively creating high-quality environments that enrich elders' lives and allow younger generations to pursue their studies and careers without worry.

Following his earlier announcement of increased meal subsidies for community care stations, Magistrate Chung introduced another beneficial initiative during today's event. The county government will instruct the Health Bureau and Social Affairs Department to dispatch nutritionists and chefs to select easily chewable and digestible ingredients, touring care stations to demonstrate suitable ingredients and cooking methods. This initiative aims to ensure elders eat nutritious meals, prevent sarcopenia, and increase their willingness to participate in station programs and activities.

Yang Ming-rao, Director of the County Water Resources Bureau, stated that this on-site guidance program has reached its 24th year, completing 285 community environmental improvement sites with a total investment of NT$99 million. This year, 14 communities were selected under the theme 'Three Parts Environment, Seven Parts Collaboration,' each receiving NT$200,000 to NT$400,000 in subsidies to improve vacant spaces or street corners according to local needs. Today's成果 exhibition was held in Xizhou Community. Director Yang added that next year, the county plans to invite trained planners back for a reunion to discuss improvements and pass on this high-quality program to future generations.

The 14 communities each presented their cultural foundations and post-renovation features, focusing on creating quality spaces that integrate living functions, ecological environments, cultural characteristics, and resident participation. After on-site evaluations by experts and scholars, the annual Community Environment Simple Greening Award was won by the Erlhu Community Development Association in Xihu Township (1st place), followed by the Wumei Community Development Association in Tongxiao Township (2nd place). Tiantiao Community Development Association in Toufen City and Xizhou Community Development Association in Houlong Township tied for 3rd place, while the Tongwan Community Development Association in Tongxiao Township received an honorable mention.

Magistrate Chung emphasized that community residents best understand their own community's characteristics and style, enabling them to reach consensus and clearly express needs for environmental optimization. Therefore, over the past 24 years, with dedicated community leaders and volunteer partners, this program has created visually pleasing environments, achieved remarkable results, and fostered a harmonious atmosphere throughout communities. Magistrate Chung also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Interior's National Land Management Agency for financial assistance and to community planners and residents for their close cooperation in making this program vibrant and successful.

Magistrate Chung stated that Miaoli County now has 236 community care and concern stations, surpassing Hsinchu County in deployment rate. With these stations operating well and communities collectively creating friendly environments, elders' lives can become colorful and vibrant, while younger generations can focus wholeheartedly on their studies or careers without concerns.

After the awards ceremony, Magistrate Chung Dong-jin, accompanied by Water Resources Bureau Director Yang Ming-rao and chairpersons of various community development associations, visited the static exhibitions to learn about each community's unique features. During the tour, he sampled local delicacies and played with traditional children's toys, reminiscing about childhood. Accompanied by Chairman He Jin-lin, he also toured Xizhou Community's newly completed elevated vegetable garden for seniors. The garden's height is designed to eliminate the need for elders to squat or bend over for extended periods.