Residents keep off Patel Kunta Park

Kukatpally: In the last six months a number of new parks including one for pets have come up in the West Zone but the plight of the Patel Kunta Park has gone from bad to worse so much so that locals have decided to shun the park.

Sample this: There are few benches but are broken, the walkway is damaged, the elderly do not have space to sit and the children who want to play shuttle are refused on the basis that the lawns would be spoilt.

Being the only park in the vicinity, locals used to throng the park along with children but nowadays few prefer to spend their time at the park due to its bad condition.Moreover, the park these days has become secret spot for couples, especially after 6 p. m.

Residents of neighbouring colonies who like to visit the park along with their children, as a respite from heat during summer season, are embarrassed lot as they are afraid of witnessing obscene scenes in the park.

Moreover, due to the improper maintenance of the park, the sports and recreational facilities provided at children park are in a damaged condition and parents are afraid that the damaged sports facilities may cause injuries to children.

A couple of such incidents were reported in the recent past. Several small bridges on morning track are in a dilapidated condition.Children and women fear walking on the bridges as they are on the verge of collopse.

Morning walkers have expressed their dissatisfaction over the neglect of the park and have appealed authorities to take necessary measures to revive the park. Sunder, a local resident who comes to park regularly for morning walk, said, "The bridges on the morning track have collapsed and now I am thinking of going to other parks. Authorities should take necessary measures to revive the park as there are very few parks in our locality."

Senior citizens who come to the park find no place to sit and have stopped coming to the park. The park has a few benches but are damaged. A couple of benches that are in good condition are generally occupied by lovebirds who frequent the park.

Rama Rao, a senior citizen who frequently visits the park, said "It would be better if some benches are placed in one side of the park especially for senior citizens so that we can spend some time here at the park." Some children who tried to play shuttle on lawns were denied saying that it would spoil lawns. Separate shuttle courts could be built in the park for children, the parents of the children said.

By Shiva Akula