Bengaluru :

Namma Park in Vasanthnagar is an apt example of how citizens’ intervention can change the face of a public space.

Only months ago, the park spread over 4,000 sqft on 10th Cross was choking with plastic bottles, broken liquor bottles and garbage.Today, the place has undergone a sea change –greenery everywhere, walkways clearly laid out and residents relaxing on benches.

In early April, Friederike Fokuhl, a German teacher in Bengaluru, was appalled by the park’s condition.

Realizing that it hadn’t seen a broom for years, Friederike and her friend Reshma Nargund, a social worker, started cleaning the park every day from 7am to 9am.

“We got in touch with BBMP and learnt this park was categorized as `underdeveloped’ and, therefore, got no funds. That’s when we decided to clean it up,” said Nargund.

In a month, the Vasantnagar Residents’ Welfare Association (VRWA) also joined in. Soon, people descended on the park, armed with gloves, brooms and garbage cans. The park was tidied, gates were fixed and saplings planted.

However, more needs to be done. For instance, some benches are broken and a few pathways require repair; thanks to a garbage dump on the adjacent street, rats frequent the place.

Infrastructure upgradation, pest control and improvement of soil quality will perk up the green space further.

“We weren’t aware that citizens and corporates could adopt parks from BBMP. I urge fellow Bengalureans to come forward and look after their neighbourhood,” said Raj Kumar, secretary, VRWA.

Samantha King, a freelance architect, has come up with an aesthetic design for the park. “Even though it’s in a much better shape now, it’s not visually appealing.The design is viable, sustainable, easy to maintain and cost-effective; it’ll be an inclusive space for the entire community ,” she said.

Watson’s, a neighbourhood restaurant, has decided to host a fundraiser for Namma Park on August 2, 4pm. All patrons can contribute and the amount generated through the event will be used for uplifting the park.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / by Surya Harikrishnan, TNN / July 29th, 2015