The Greater Chennai Corporation park at Besant Nagar 21st Cross Street remains locked for the past two months. Residents say that the park was made out of bounds for its visitors around the first week of April, to facilitate the creation of a walkers’ pathway. Though the work has been completed, the park is yet to be reopened.
Residents say that the maintenance of the park leaves a lot to be desired.
“The park is not being swept every day. Some of the play equipment there are damaged. Besides, there isn’t sufficient greenery.
The surface of the ground is uneven. Moreover, three bins of the Corporation are kept along the compound wall of the park. They need to be relocated elsewhere.
Garbage is not cleared at regular intervals and heaps of garbage can be seen around the bins,” says R. Srivatsan, a Besant Nagar resident. In addition, residents also draw attention to the fact that the park is misused with older children using it as a cricket ground. “Older boys can be seen playing cricket every day.
So, parents of small children choose to not take their children as the ball can hit them.
The nameboard says the park is meant for children; but there should be a specific mention of the age group,” says Srivatsan
Although the park is closed, the boys jump over the compound and gain entry into the park.
