No facelift to Nellore parks

Nellore: Summer is the time when kids build memories with playful environs that give them respite from year-long pressure from education related activities. But, kids in Nellore are missing these unforgettable moments that they can look back at vacations, day trips, picnics and other outings with nostalgia.

Basically, the city is missing such outing places during peak summer. Very few private water games and others are serving needs of the people and the civic body has totally ignored such entertainment activity.

In fact, children need more special activities such as summer camps for building fond memories playing with friends, toys, building toys, doll houses, games, musical toys, costume competitions, summer reading, music sessions for entertainment, work on puzzles etc make them invigorated for proceeding with the upcoming sessions in schools.

Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana assured earlier that 18 parks in the city would be developed in all aspects by March 2018 as part of beautifying the city. He also said they had plans to give facelift to around 120 parks in city which will be taken up in a phased manner. Ironically, there has been focus on only few parks in which children’s park is on the top of the list.

There are important parks like Swatantra Park at Gandhi Statue, Pinakini Park in Ranganayakula Pet, Netaji Park in Pappula Street, People’s Park in Haranathapuram, Magunta Subbarami Reddy Park in AC Nagar and many others. 

Swatantra Park is the old one in the city and the place has not been used for any pastime activity for the city population which was once used as an important entertainment location. There are many such parks in city that were being neglected by civic body.

“We used to have recreation activities some 3 decades ago in the city. Now, there has been no such efforts from the Nellore Municipal Corporation. We have either to visit a movie theatre, a hotel or a mall for spending time. No other activity the current generation has,” said KV Ramana from Balaji Nagar.

On the other hand, City Mayor Abdul Aziz appealed to the denizens to come forward for maintaining the local parks by registering themselves as associations. He assured that the civic body attaching some volume of financial support for such associations for taking up works in the parks.

“Corporation officials have to work sincerely for developing the parks. Even Municipal Administration Minister has to be serious for giving facelift to the leisure places in his native district without giving scope for laxity.

The politicos were saying about development of parks for last one year and there has been no practical development,” said K Rajeswari, a retired teacher. Further, Minister Narayana said that they had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for construction of compound walls, walking racks and gym centres in 22 parks out of 26 selected in the city.

By P V Prasad