Marine Cove Playground at East Coast Park, Singapore
Introduction
Parks are places intended for peoples enjoyment and recreation or for preserving nature and its inhabitants. Usually, it is designed or landscaped in a semi-natural state with grass areas and a wide array of plants or tree species.
It can be designed for :
- children recreation (using playground),
- adults (outdoor fitness equipment and extreme sports facilities),
- and elderly (walking paths and landscaping)
- or mixed used (all age types)
Marine Cove playground at East coast Park, SG
Xtreme Skatepark at East coast Park, SG
Jogging path East coast Park, SG
It is typically open for public use but in some places it is fenced especially at night time intended for the publics safety.
There are also large parks with natural features such as rivers, hills and mountains which is protected and amusement parks Which features exciting rides, shows and games and etc.
For this blog, we will be focusing more on Urban Parks.
Why is it important?
Parks are areas allocated to preserve a nature in the cities and towns. It is important in an urban structure to create a place for physical activity, for families and communities to gather and socialize (en.m.wikipedia.org) or for a simple breather away from the concrete jungle that we always thread upon.
HDB playground at Pingyi Greens
Benefits of parks
- Communities thrive where there is open green space that allows social activities such as plays, shows and etc.
- It revitalize and helps neighborhood to be vibrant and healthy.
- You can meet your crush there! :) or even the love of your life! either first or last. Lol
- Provides valuable ecosystem system services by improving air quality, store carbon and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
- Overtime, with the parks frequent use it can affect the surroundings. It can provide business opportunities such as restaurants, shopping stores, cafes, and other business which entails to attracting more visitors. Does increasing the communities revenue. (www.asla.org)
Marine Cove at East coast Park, SG
A Dream to be implemented in the Philippines
- Current situation
The Philippines economy is progressing fast. A lot of commercial establishment, condos, hotels, and etc. are being built up. This is ok as long as it helps the local community in all aspects. But for most, it isn't. What I mean by this, even though these establishment provides business opportunities and visitor traffic, it's main focus is to generate income (which benefits more of the upper class society). Unlike for parks, it focuses more on the welfare of low and middle class communities.
Another thing is "compared to other cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and New York - one obvious difference is that manila lacks green spaces. Yet, some parks are in threat to be demolished" (http://www.philstar.com/modern-living/2017/10/07/1746144/saving-arroceros). Filipino masses have been brainwashed by those Capitalist. It was ingrained to some that having this establishments and etc. nearby is good for them in fact it isn't. You only gained a place where you can buy things, watch movies. In short you need money to have fun.
- Time to Wake up!
We Filipino boasts that we are family oriented. This is indeed true, however we should also reinforce the community-oriented virtue. This is where the introduction of parks comes into play. As mentioned and just want to reiterate its benefits:
playtime is family and friends time
- Communities thrive where there is open green space that allows social activities such as plays, shows and etc.
- It revitalize and helps neighborhood to be vibrant and healthy.
- You can meet your crush there! :) or even the love of your life! either first or last. Lol
- Provides valuable ecosystem system services by improving air quality, store carbon and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
- It can provide business opportunities such as restaurants, shopping stores, cafes, and other business which entails to attracting more visitors. Does increasing the communities revenue. (www.asla.org)
Think of your Family's future.
Think for the good of the Filipino people.
I'll leave you with the panorama photo of the Marine Cove East Coast Park
And a link to the video from The American Society of Landscape Architects on "Revitalizing Communties with parks".
https://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/Vid_Parks.html
Just want to add, if in the future there will be a park project that will be built for your community, make sure to attend the Governments and Planner Project Presentation, your insights will be helpful in the betterment of the project.
Note: This is my personal opinion and all photos were taken by me.
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