City to have seven more parks

These parks will be equipped with modern facilities such as seating area, yoga platform, exercise rods, walking platform, drinking water and toilet facilities, children’s play area, ramp for persons with disability, clock tower and police booth. In Jayachanchandran Nagar (Perungudi) and Thoraipakkam Anandanagar, existing park areas will be given a facelift, with additional facilities such as walking platform, toilet facilities, electric lamps, seating benches and other such amenities. Jayapal, Superintendent for Parks, said that work is under way. 

“We are also in the process of finding Open Space Reserve (OSR) lands to construct new parks. Existing parks too will be renovated. In North Chennai, we are preparing a blueprint to construct new,” Jayapal. He added, “It is not only corporates, we are also approaching other stakeholders to join with us to maintain these parks.” 

Residents, like entrepreneur Sajeevan Putharikal, welcome this idea. “An open park nearby will encourage children to play outside, while senior citizens can go for a walk without worry. Parks can certainly bring in a social connectivity,” added this Perungudi resident, who often takes the road near the Anna Highway Street, where a new park has been announced by the Corporation at Rs 3.08 cr. “Lately, construction waste has been dumped in this area. 

I am happy that a park is being planned in this area. Sajeevan pointed out that most of the boards in these parks, especially on OSR land, are not visible. “Point in case is the park opposite Olympia Tech Park near Kathipara. While the park is open to public, the security officials are quite stern and not many are aware that this is a public area. There should be a proper board declaring that these are parks meant for the public,” he suggested. 

Arun Krishnamurthy, Founder of Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI), said this is certainly a positive move. “Parks, for instance, in Tamil Nadu Housing Board colony in Sholinganallur, is a good initiative. However, it must be ensured that these parks are not concretised.” he concluded.