Residents of Ranchi have expressed growing concern over the deteriorating condition of public parks managed by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC). What should be vibrant spaces filled with children's laughter and morning walkers have become neglected corners marked by broken swings, rusted open gym equipment, damaged walking tracks, and poorly maintained washrooms.
Uneven Distribution of Parks
While the RMC manages around 19 parks across the city, residents highlight that the problem extends beyond maintenance to an uneven distribution of facilities. Several parks are concentrated in Morabadi and nearby areas, leaving many residential colonies in places like Hatia and Hindpiri without even a basic children's park or open green space.
Children's Park in Morabadi
Visitors to Children's Park in Morabadi reported that many rides, particularly swings, have become slippery and unsafe for children. The boating area, once a major attraction, now contains stagnant and dirty water. Walking paths remain littered with fallen leaves, and the overall surroundings are poorly maintained. Amrit Tyagi, a visitor, stated, "The swings are slippery and unsafe. The lake is filled with stagnant, dirty water, and even the walking path was not clean. The washrooms are unhygienic."
Zakir Hussain Park
Zakir Hussain Park also reflects neglect. Residents pointed to overgrown weeds, poorly watered plants, damaged seating arrangements, and an abandoned toy train structure that has been unused for years.
Official Response
Municipal Commissioner Sushant Gaurav acknowledged the issue, stating, "Maintenance of public parks is a continuous process, and the civic body keeps working on regular improvements. We always try to upgrade or modify parks, whether by ensuring clean water, painting, cutting grass, or maintaining trees, either with the help of other agencies or by ourselves."
Demand for Better Distribution
Residents like Binod Kachchap emphasize the need for better distribution of parks. "The parks should ideally be beyond a 1-km radius of each other. Otherwise, demand gets divided and some parks are forgotten," he said. The disparity is evident: Morabadi has several parks within a short radius, while other areas lack basic green spaces entirely.
