Walls, grills damaged, parks turn risky

Many city parks are left vulnerable due to damaged boundary walls or grills. In several areas, parks are without protective walls or grills while in some cases the lower wall supporting the grill is missing altogether. Residents say it not only compromises the safety and security of the space but also poses a serious risk as the unsupported grills could collapse any time, endangering visitors and diminishing the sense of care such public spaces deserve.

One of the public parks located at Salem Tabri on the National Highway presents a picture of utter neglect. The lower wall supporting the grill has broken, which can lead to the falling of the grill any time. Besides, anti-social elements make way to the park as the sun goes down.

Geeta, an area resident, said earlier she used to send her daughter to the park for playing in the evening but of late she noticed that many people sit and consume alcohol in the park after it gets dark.

“Now, I do not allow my daughter and other children to play in the park after I saw empty alcohol bottles and syringes lying there. Kids cannot play in streets and the parks are in a shambles. The authorities should pay attention towards the issue,” she said.

Another park, Guru Ram Das Park, near the Jalandhar bypass, and that too on the national highway presents a picture of apathy. The boundary wall supporting the grill and the grill too is missing at some points in the park. Looking at the park, one does not get the feel that it is a park, instead, it appears like a open space full of bricks and litter.

Amarjeet Jeeta, who is staying around the area, said: “There is no security as the boundary wall is missing and after having a look at the park, one does not get a feel of park but of open litter space,” he said.

Another city resident said parks should be maintained properly as these act like green lungs in the congested industrial city.

“What to talk about plants in the parks even the basic infrastructure such as boundary wall and benches is missing from the parks, especially those located in old city areas,” he said.

Nine-year-old Aradhana, who is stuck inside her house in the evening, said what was the use of parks when we could not go out and play as these were not safe and upkept properly. “I end up watching TV and gets scolded as I am not allowed to go out and play in the park,” she lamented.