The Opening of the East Coast Park Precinct (Phase 1) in Fortress Hill 炮台山東岸公園主題區（第一期）正式啟用

Designing Hong Kong has been long advocating for better accessibility to the waterfronts for the general public. Along with the proposal of the Island Coast Trail, it is hoped that open space along with the coastal areas could be expanded for public usage. After years of discussion and assiduous efforts, the East Coast Park Precinct (Phase 1) in Fortress Hill is finally opened for public usage.

Before the development of the East Coast Park, the harbourfront in the Fortress Hill Area has been predominated by industrial uses and the construction of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass. The opening of the Precinct interconnected the harbourfront areas of Fortress Hill. The opening of the precinct has enabled citizens to enjoy the stunning view of Victoria Habour in proximity, with the breakwater that situated the maintenance path to the shaft used by the Central-Wan Chai Bypass opened for public access.  The Precinct has also hosted an abundance of leisure facilities. Such facilities include a ground for riders of balance bikes, slides & safety floor mat and a lawn area with benches and shelter. Citizens could bring along their pets and kids, and enjoy some decent family time in the precinct.

The opening of the Precinct has symbolized better connectivity to the East Coast of Hong Kong Island. The upcoming development of the East Coast Park has further stretched the existing promenade along Victoria Harbour to 25 kilometres, with other sections including the Pierside Precinct (Phase 2), the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct (Phase 2) and the Revitalised Typhoon Shelter Precinct expected by the end of the year. Together with the ongoing development of the Broadwalk underneath the Island Eastern Corridor, better connectivity along the East Coast of Hong Kong Island could be much expected. Thanks to the continuous improvement work planned in the harbourfront areas, the Island Coastal Trail project proposed by Designing Hong Kong would be coming to fruition in the coming years.

The precinct can be reached from the Fortress Hill MTR Station within a 7-minute walk. From the Exit A of the MTR Station, visitors can walk along Oil Street to the Electric Road, and walk to the end of Watson Road to reach the precinct. You can also further explore the Eastern Harbour Walk of the Island Coastal Trail, and visit the harbourfront in North Point or Causeway Bay, to enjoy the mesmerising view of the Victoria Harbour.

​

創建香港一直致力提倡拉近市民以及岸邊的距離，並提出「港島環島徑」的構思，希望有關部門可以開放海旁用地予市民遊客使用。經過多年的努力以及與有關部門商討，在炮台山海濱的「東岸公園主題區（第一期）」終於在日前向公眾正式開放。

東岸公園原用地一直都用作工業以及中環灣仔繞道工程用地之用。剛開放的東岸公園主題區把炮台山一帶的海傍貫穿，並開放通往中環灣仔繞道東面排風口的維修徑的防波堤，讓市民可以近距離欣賞維港的景色。 除了首條向公眾開放的防波堤，場地亦設有兒童平衡車試驗空間，遊樂滑梯和安全地墊，亦有草地、座椅、遮陽設施等供予市民消閒，市民亦可帶同繫上牽繩的寵物到訪，讓一家大細可以在場地盡情享受家庭樂。

主題區的啟用亦象徵維港海濱進一步與向東連接。政府預料東岸公園的『渡輪碼頭畔主題區（第二期）』、『水上運動及康樂主題區（第二期）』，以及『活力避風塘主題區』將會在本年底前逐步開放，讓向公眾開放維港海濱進一步延長至25公里。加上東區走廊下之行人板道預料在2024年開放，市民屆時可以沿著維多利亞港海旁由港島西步行至鰂魚涌一帶，亦令創建香港一直倡議的「港島環島徑」能夠進一步實現。

若有興趣到訪的市民， 可以從炮台山A出口出發，經油街轉入電器道，至屈臣道街尾即可到達主題區，步程約7分鐘。市民到訪主題區後，亦可隨著港島環島徑的維港東段，沿著海旁步行至銅鑼灣或北角，沿途欣賞維多利亞港的迷人風景。

​