23 March,2022 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
Children at the park, near the Bhadhwar Park junction, with the old, uneven ground
A revamped green space welcomed Colaba-Cuffe Parade locals this month. As the city said âopen sesame', with COVID cases on a gradual decline, children seemed to have found their wings. After being cooped up at home, it was a joy for them to be up and about.
The dynamic Bella Shah, part of several projects in the vicinity said, "Several locals and corporators Makarand Narwekar and Harshita Narwekar decided that the BMC garden strip near the Bhadhwar Park junction, opposite Deepak Jog Chowk, needed a facelift."
The project started in November 2021, and a spruced up strip opened to kids this month. The space is largely frequented by slum children, as there is a slum
colony adjacent.
Shah added, "The faces of the children as they entered their renovated space could light up an entire room. The play equipment has been changed. The flooring, which was undulating and very rough, has been levelled and tiled. Then, of course, like they say walls have ears, and they heard us say: this is for children only. The cartoons on the wall art add to the zany, fun vibe of the place."
Cynthia D'Mello, a local, claimed, "Timing is everything. The revamped space opened this month just as Mumbai was in unlock season. Children, who were forced inside literally chafing as COVID put the clamps on, rushed out joyously to use this BMC garden. Our hearts lifted when we saw them using the space, playing with abandon and gusto on the equipment."
Corporator Harshita Narwekar said, "This garden, frequented primarily by slum children, was quite run-down. The equipment was of concern, broken chains, jagged edges meant that cavorting kids, lost in the merriment could get hurt easily with the sharp ends of this play infra. Then, as you know, slums are extremely densely packed together and in COVID times these children had their little avenues for outdoor entertainment closed. That is why this garden face-lift was important."
Asked about the prospect of this space becoming derelict again and equipment coming apart, as maintenance is a problem Narwekar said, "There is much more wear ân' tear in the civic gardens simply because there are many more kids using the play infra, compared to a high-rise perhaps with children in upscale housing using the play area in their building. Yet, given the mental and physical benefits of being outdoors, I think even if this needs to be revamped say two years from now, it would be very well worth it."
Nandita Bedi said the flooring of the garden was a focus area. "There is a softer landing for kids as we have ensured a level ground, to inure them against hard falls. It is the attention to detail, looking at the whole picture that counts when doing up a space," Bedi said.
Wall artist Sachin H agreed. The garden wall has a cartoon theme with Disney characters Mickey and Minnie beckoning kids to the space. Sachin said, "I think these characters speak a universal children's lingo. When doing wall art for children, whether it is Mickey or Chhota Bheem, it is about getting into the child's mind, seeing the world through their prism and translating that onto the wall."
Maria Chico from Colaba, who also worked on the project said, "While this space was being done up, kids used to hang around outside peering wistfully at the work on. They were wondering when the work would be over and they would be free to access the place. They have their garden back, and the sun is in the sky and all is well with their world."
The residents claimed that it is important we take small steps to create a more equal society. Children of the well-heeled may have access to clubs and places inside their buildings to play. While this may not be absolutely comparable, "it is vital that lesser privileged children get a chance to play on equipment too," they ended.
