The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : More parks needed, say Chennai residents

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More parks needed, say Chennai residents

K. Lakshmi and Vasudha Venugopal

CHENNAI: For N. Karthik, a parent of a 13-year-old, a big regret has been that his son has never climbed a tree or had friends outside school. Mr.Karthik often blames the inaccessibility of public spaces and cites the case of the nearby playground at R.A. Puram which in ruins with frequent cycle thefts reported. “Lack of security, poor lighting and cases of bullying are reasons why many children refrain from going there,” he says.

While issues such as these and the increasing traffic and alternative modes of recreation often discourage some people from using public parks and playgrounds, for others, they still form an integral of the growing up experience..

Chennai Corporation is in the process of improving 10 playgrounds chosen from each of the 10 Corporation zones into star-rated playgrounds. The one in Gopalapuram has already been opened with facilities for various sports, including volley ball. Nearly Rs.25-30 lakh is being spent towards improving each such facility.

While many parks have been provided with pathways, benches and lighting, some including the one in De Monte Colony suffers from lack of lights along the access road. “There have been incidents of thefts on this lane. We prefer to avoid it,” says G. Archana, a mother of a four-year-old.

Residents in Otteri, and Choolai say they do not have enough parks. A. Pandurangan, president of Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar, Kodungaiyur Residents Welfare Association, says that the playground in the seventh block is poorly maintained. “Youngsters often ride bikes inside the playground. We have been demanding facility to play volley ball and other games too,” he says.

The park at Kotturpuram that was closed last year, is being used as public convenience. Drainage problems and just two public toilets in adjacent slum housing board colony are responsible for the misuse, says S. Sekhar, a resident.

The unused motors for the water fountain and rusted play equipment lie scattered and in their midst, lie freezer boxes to preserve dead bodies.

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