Parks of discontent

When Chennai Mayor M Subramanian could order renovation of big parks like Tower Park at Anna Nagar and Thiru Vi Ka Park at Shenoy Nagar, why this step-motherly treatment meted out to smaller parks in the locality? This question haunts residents of L Block and Kambar Colony, which have a children's park and a playground respectively, but both in a shambles for over a year now.
After receiving complaints from residents in this connection, our reporter visited the places and spoke to a few residents.
Kumar, a fifth standard student of a local school, said, 'In school, everyone from the physical education teacher to the principal insist upon us to spend time in parks for fresh air. But the park which is close to my house at L Block is more or less in dilapidated condition and I risk getting infected with diseases if I visit or play there.'
'The park at L Block is in such a state that no one can go anywhere near it to have fun. It is sad,' another boy said.
'The equipment in the park are rusty and in a damaged condition that it can injure children if they use it,' said Ranjan, a local resident.
Kubendran, an elderly resident of L Block, said, 'The state of the children's parks, except a few, in the area is nothing very shocking. The park near 19th Street of L Block has been the same for days. We tried our best to bring it to life, but nothing materialised till now. And in the long run, these kinds of parks would virtually become a den for miscreants to do unlawful activities, and also a spot to dump waste'.
The children park in L Block is fully surrounded by residential apartments. But no one goes there. For the condition is such that they prefer Bougainvilla Park where they can refresh themselves.
Speaking to this reporter , Rajapallawi, president of Kambar Colony Residents Welfare Association, said, 'After persistent efforts by the residents for nearly four decades, Chennai Corporation had begun the facelift work. But, even after a year, the works have not been completed. As a result, a few play-equipment like seesaw are in a broken and rusty condition.'
'Around 300 families reside at Kambar Colony, and we have a good number of children there. They need proper space to play. Whenever we contact the higher officials about it, they say that the estimate for the renovation is being made. And I don't know when they will be through with it', lamented Rajapallawi.
'We would be very happy if the Mayor turns his attention to these kind of small parks and order renovation,' said another resident. Will the small parks and playgrounds in the locality ever see the light of the day, a question that begs for an answer.