NEXON and the NEXON Foundation have announced that their 'Maple Leaf Playground' No. 2, located in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, has been named an Excellent Children's Play Facility by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for 2025.

The Ministry's selection process is a rigorous evaluation of safety management, maintenance, child development integration, safety-first design, and community engagement among approximately 84,000 playgrounds nationwide. This year, only eight facilities were selected, with just two outdoor public playgrounds—including this one—making the cut.

NEXON and the NEXON Foundation overhauled the former Haneulbit Children's Park, which had been suffering from low utilization due to aging facilities and a lack of play equipment, in collaboration with the city of Uijeongbu.

The facility was recognized for its high accessibility near schools and residential areas, its diverse physical play equipment designed to boost gross motor skills, and its immersive play experience based on game IP that harmonizes with the natural environment. It also received high marks for its child-participatory design, developed through workshops with the 'Maple Leaf Brave Squad,' as well as its overall cleanliness and safety standards.

Spanning 1,000㎡, this space was a collaborative effort between NEXONspace, the subsidiary that manages NEXON's real estate assets, and playground specialists I-ttang, alongside a host of other experts.

The playground is themed after the 'Stone Spirit' from MapleStory. It features Stone Spirit-themed play structures, mounds, sand pits, tunnels, and tracks. Children can hunt for hidden Stone Spirit characters throughout the park, and the facility includes unique equipment like the Viper swing, which is rarely seen elsewhere in the country.

User satisfaction scores among children increased from 2.8 to 9.1 following the renovation. A survey of students from Uijeongbu Cheongryong Elementary School confirmed that the playground has had a positive impact on encouraging outdoor activity, with 75% of participating parents stating they have gained a new appreciation for the importance of outdoor play.

Chang-seop Kim, the director overseeing MapleStory in Korea, stated, "The Maple Leaf Playground is more than just a place to play; it is a meaningful social contribution that restores children's rights to grow and enjoy themselves. We remain committed to working alongside our 'Heroes' (MapleStory players) to expand safe and fun play environments for kids."

As a flagship social contribution project for MapleStory, this initiative focuses on remodeling old playgrounds or building new ones in underserved areas. With the first two locations already open in Seongnam and Uijeongbu, the team is planning to unveil the third location at Seoul Children's Grand Park next year.