A hat-tip to authorities who got Juhu park refurbished

Young people enjoy themselves at the park

A well-known park in Juhu, the Pushpa Narsee Park, was refurbished recently. There was a formal inauguration of the space, with the community all smiles at getting access to the green area.

There were plans to convert this place into an underground car park, after which a garden was supposed to be built atop the park. Those plans faced opposition from citizens, architects, activists and environmentalists. The MLA eventually saw wisdom in letting the park just exist as an open space, scotched the underground parking plan, even removing an entry fee so that it is totally free for the public.

In a grey, concrete city where we are so starved of open ground citizens are embroiled in an eternal, enervating war. They act as vigilantes throughout, and warriors on certain days to try and save spaces from any kind of encroachment.

Now that this story in particular has a happy ending, we as citizens need to use these places responsibly. Teach your children that breaking play equipment or dirtying it will invite punishment. This particular park in Juhu has a cycling track, so walking or jogging on it is a no-no. Adhere to rules and walk only on the designated space while enjoying the bowls of green within. Keep the place as clean as when you entered it.

Full marks to the decision makers who saw the wisdom in not shutting down the park. If there are alternatives in the vicinity, and if they are feasible then that should be considered before touching a park for any activity. That should apply everywhere. Parks/gardens/open spaces should be sacrosanct. Their purpose of providing recreation to citizens, leave them untouched, only undertaking repairs or necessary facelifts. This is a reason to say yahoo to Juhu and let this be the year where people have more like this to cheer about.