Paradise amidst concrete

Parks prove to be our saving grace by adding that touch of green, at a time when cities are slowly turning into a concrete jungle. Namma City boasts of a number of parks but how many of them are well-maintained and equipped? Metrolife finds out what public parks mean to people and their expectations from them.

“My work demands me to spend a lot of time in front of the computer. So I go to the park to relax. The greenery calms my mind. I walk inside the park to stay fit. It would help if vehicles are not allowed near parks as it is risky for old people. There should be water and toilet facilities inside a park as well,” says Mohan T, a software engineer.

Preet Ganapathy, a PR head, says that she goes to a park for a brisk walk in the morning to maintain her body. She feels that there has been an increase in parks in the City but most of them are not well-maintained. “I am not a gym person and cannot live in a place where there are no parks. The park where I currently go is green but there are no flowers. There is a space constraint there. Both joggers and walkers use the park and find it difficult to maintain their pace. I love animals but sometimes dogs taken out for a walk fight with each other and it disturbs people who meditate. A fountain, a swimming pool and meditation facilities would be an added attraction.”

Siddharth runs a family business and used to frequently go to parks when he was small. The 24-year-old says that greenery and hygienic water facilities are very important in a park. “People of all age groups visit parks for health, relaxation, picnics and other reasons. There should be a special corner for children to play. More modes of entertainment should be there for kids.”

M V Sathyanarayana Rao, a retired general manager, says that a park must be well-protected. “Safety aspect is very important apart from greenery and space. There should be a guard to safeguard the park and its visitors from pickpocketers. We have many parks in our colony. My wife and I, being senior citizens, go there for exercising and relaxation. Lots of parks have come up in the City which is good. The only thing is people should follow the rules of the park and should help in maintaining it.”