URBAN GARDEN PROJECT

: A park is a beautiful thing, which entertains us if we visit there. A public park is necessary in a city like Kathmandu because people come to take fresh air from the crowded and smokeful area. In Kathmandu, the houses stand side by side. There is not enough open space in many houses. The alleys are very narrow. People want free air and light. People in this fast-paced city life often prefer outdoor recreational pursuits during weekends and holidays. But, what if the visit to parks and other recreational spots becomes an unpleasant experience? Such is the condition of the famous parks in Kathmandu as they are now in dilapidated condition, which are barely luring the townies. The sorry state of affairs persists as the authority concerned — the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has not been able to look after such sites due to the lack of proper mechanism and manpower. For the people of Kathmandu, green and well-maintained parks where families can spend quality time together on holidays have always been a distant dream. It is not that there aren´t parks in the capital at all. The city boasts of spacious parks like Ratna Park, Balaju Park, Tribhuwan Park, Gagadol Park and Sankha Park etc. But, those parks and others are in a sorry state. Families prefer not to visit the parks as they are usually littered with wastes and have turned into hangouts for drifters. Most of the parks in the capital lack basic facilities like toilets and water taps. Even those that have toilets such facilities have been left to fall apart in want of upkeep. Now days, the parks are being polluted. People visit the place, throw papers, break flowers and destroy the beauty. In some parks, mazes are burnt and sold but they throw jackets of maize and cobs. The husks of fruits are thrown here and there.