Design for new-look Nageswara Rao Park revealed. Park users take a look. Suggestions, feedback solicited by architect.

The first look of the proposed renovation plan for Nageswara Rao Park was unveiled at the park on Monday, January 20 morning. It was attended by some 20 plus people in the presence of the Mylapore MLA and staff of the firm of architects which has created the design.

The design has features like two water bodies on the west side, food kiosks on the north east end, two gates, children’s play area, a gazebo, an open air theatre-like setting, fountains, a herbal garden and what is labeled ‘interactive space’.

The design does not indicate washrooms and drinking water services nor incorporates the two gyms that are being constructed in the south-west end of the park at great cost from the MLA’s fund.

The MLA has said that the new-look park has a budget of Rs.8 crores and that there will be more Open House sessions and the views of park users will be incorporated.

At the Open House on Monday, walkers made some suggestions and those who play shuttte in the park asked for a space for the sport while some sought a stage where teens can learn dance and yoga.

A representative of the architect’s firm said that the design was arrived at after conversations with park users.

However, soon after the design was made public by Mylapore Times, many people highlighted a few key issues –  why not restore only sections of the park that need attention and let the old areas be; some said that the park must not have food spaces, play spaces and stages where loud events can be held but it must remain a green and quiet zone.

A few others said that spending Rs.8 crores on redoing this park fully was a waste of public money when all that this park needed was restoration of the east end where a new drain was laid pre-monsoon time and the area looks like a battered zone now.

Some say that ‘fancy’ ideas must be kept out. Ideas like a herbal garden, food kiosks and fountains are wasteful expenditure, people said.

Some others want the project promoters to commit a budget for the park’s maintenance, saying that in many cases in the past, fountains ran dry and spaces like herbal gardens were vandalised.

The MLA has told Mylapore Times that he has suggested building a path for walkers above the drain: this may seem not a good idea because there wil be times when the drain may need attention / repairs and hence, must be left free from construction on around it.

 

One Comment on “Design for new-look Nageswara Rao Park revealed. Park users take a look. Suggestions, feedback solicited by architect.”

  1. The park needs the basic uplift and peaceful environment. Should not be converted as commerical-like, food stalls or play areas for adults. More greenery, toilets, drinking water and parking space is what need. otherwise, it will become a semmozhi poonga type and attract too many people crowding the spot which is for the local residents primarily and also disturbing the residents with loud vehicle noise, honk and parking menace

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