A playground is attached to Amma Park on Kodambakkam Road in Saidapet. The playground and park were developed together three years ago, and offered as a package for residents of the region. Residents complain that the playground has been neglected. In contrast, the park resembles a well-appointed suite, with many facilities in place.
A few play equipment look worn out and a bit damaged too. However, in comparison to what prevails at the playground and what happens to the park at night, this is the smallest of problems faced by residents.
Residents of Kodambakkam, East Jones Road, West Mambalam, Saidapet and Ragavan Reddy Colony make use of the mark. They have formed Amma Park Users Association and one of its key campaigns is to ensure the playground is improved.
P.K. Dhanushkodi, the president of the Association, says, “The space behind the park is meant to be a playground, but it hardly resembles one. There is no dedicated court for any sport. They could have easily created courts for al-fresco badminton or basketball. Moreover, the surface of the ground at the playground is uneven.”
Despite deficiencies in resources, the playground attracts a lot of people.
“Around 20 to 30 women play badminton at this ground. As the playground is poorly-lit, we don’t stay there for long hours in the evening. Often, we find liquor bottles and cigarette stubs, suggesting misuse of the playground by anti-social elements at night,” says Sumithra Ravi Balu, secretary of the Association.
The Association has requested the R6 Police Station to ensure a high degree of patrolling on the premises of the park at night. “There are unsavoury goings-on at the park. Patrolling at night will put an end to this situation. Better lighting will also go a long way towards solving the problem,” says P. Girija, vice-president of the Association.
Some of the other issues that the Association will take up include removal of garbage in front of the park, replacement of sanitary wares in the wash-room and damaged play equipment. The Association plans to redesign the two-wheeler parking lot within the park. S. Vasudevan, a regular visitor, says, “There is no board displaying the name and contact details of the contractor in charge of maintaining the park. In other parks, we can find such information including the funds allocated for the contractor.”