Taoyuan's plan to build a community center on park land inside the Machang New Village heritage area has run into local opposition, and residents are pushing to stop it.

• The city wants to build the Longde civic activity center on the old Women's League site, now a public park inside the preserved military dependents' village.
• Residents gathered more than 400 signatures in three days, saying the green space is in use and a permanent building would spoil the village's look.
• They argue nearby schools and an existing arts space already host community activities, so the city should count what it has before building something new.
• Officials say the project already cleared two heritage reviews and passed the city's cultural assets committee in March.
• Anger is sharper because four old banyan trees at the park entrance were cut down; the district says they were diseased and unsafe.

Outlook: The district office will hold a public briefing to hear residents out, with the site still open to change.