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Open space preservation project: Community park construction
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WATO-Nepal has been involved in the construction of a community
park in Gyaneswor community, Kathmandu Nepal, keeping in line
with its efforts to deal with the problem of pollution, litter
abatement and waste management through community beautification
and development. The community park has been constructed through
the support of the Gyaneswor community dwellers as well as with
the assistance of various agencies and departments of Nepal
Government and local and foreign donor agencies.In particular,
we are most grateful to our foreign donor agency, our key
partner who has supported our work from the very beginning in
bringing together communities towards developing their own
communities. We are appreciative of enthusiasm, involvement and
support from government bodies (Nepal Army, Ministry of physical
planning, Municipality development committee, District
development committee, Department of water supply, Kathmandu
municipality, Ward office 33), along with invaluable
contributions from local schools (Galaxy school) and clubs in
our effort to preserve open spaces in kathmandu. |
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On behalf of gyaneswor community, we extend our sincere
appreciation to Hon minister Prakash Man singh, Mr. Bishnu
neupane (Jagadamba cement, nepal), Nepal finance, Mr Sudip
bista, Mr Amar upreti and family, Mr Umesh pandey, Mr Naresh
pandey, Mr Dal bahadur and all the gyaneswor community members
who have actively supported our open space preservation work in
cash and in kind. We are most obliged to Mr. D. N Roy (Senior
Architect), who spent nights and days with the community in
designing the park for community. |
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The need for Open Space Preservation |
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While studying the problem of pollution and waste control and
management issues, it was found that the area where the park has
been constructed was found to be among the dirtiest areas in
Gyaneswor. The land area where the park is being constructed
used to be misused as a waste dumping site and inhabited by
illegal squatters. |
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People in the neighborhood had also used the area to dump their
construction material adding to the pollution of the surrounding
area. In the absence of a public sewage system, the area was
fast becoming a breeding ground for various diseases, especially
during the rainy season. |
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Likewise, the area being a public space, passers by and
the neighbors made the place dirty by throwing litter and
garbage into the place. A certain part of area was also
illegally encroached by an auto workshop. The old cars at the
place and the repair work caused a great deal of noise and air
pollution in the area. More disconcerting to the dwellers in the
area was the fact that the area was also frequented by drug
users and looters in the absence of adequate lighting and safety
measures. |
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Park for community - Building social interaction |
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With the level of support and involvement from all concerned
stakeholders, a clean, green, well-maintained park is now
available to all. The park which covers a total area of 8928sq
ft (93x96 ft) is welcoming to people of all age groups. As such,
the park includes a wide number of amenities including a
children's playing house (including slides, and climbing nets,
sand pit), swings, along with a basket-ball court, badminton
court, chautari and benches. An acupunctural walking path,
especially, useful for elderly people and heart patients have
also been constructed. In support of these facilities, other
amenities include a tube-well for water supply, a well manicured
garden around the perimeter of the park, and a lighting system
around the perimeter of the park.
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As in most of the neighborhoods of Kathmandu, there are no
facilities for the residents of Gyaneswor neighborhood for
recreation, social interaction or for sports and other social
activities. Community Park, Gyaneswor, therefore, not only
serves as a recreational area for children but also brings
together the adults from Gyaneswor and surrounding
neighborhoods, is serving as an area for social interaction
among locals. |
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Thus, it also serves as an endeavor to build social
interaction among the residents, which was virtually non
existent. The construction of the park has immediately
discouraged drug users and other unsocial activities in the
neighborhood. The park is also a sanctuary for a few small sized
ancient temples and shrines located in its vicinity.
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Building community confidence |
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As part of its confidence building measures, WATO, started its
community level project in Gyaneswor, Kathmandu Nepal, with a
construction of an alley, with similar problems in its vicinity,
and its success was immediately followed by the construction of
the community park. A significant amount of local support
increased in the due course. |
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The projects success have thus played a vital role not
only in exploring ways to successfully address the pollution
problem in the Nepalese community but also in setting example
within the community , that it is in their own hands to build
their community dreams and protect the environment. With the
increased level of awareness among the locals, and their sense
of ownership towards the park they have built with their own
hands, development of a community driven proper management and
monitoring system for the park and its surrounding area is also
in progress. |
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