You'll have to put up with the urban jungle - Bangkokians told parks are too expensive

[webfact]

You'll have to put up with the urban jungle - Bangkokians told parks are too expensive

 

Picture: Daily News

 

BANGKOK: -- The BMA has bemoaned the fact that it is just too expensive to provide Bangkokians with enough parks.

 

Despite the capital falling well short of WHO guideline's for city living the authority say they can't afford to give residents more space to exercise and enjoy life.

 

As the BMAM Expo 2017 talking about green issues was about to get underway, the head of public parks in the city spoke to Daily News on the issue - and it was not good news for the city residents.

 

Arom Wongmaha said that presently there is 22,208 rai of land given over to parks in Bangkok. This equates to just 2.27% of the total land area or a measly 6.25 square meters per person.

 

Barely room to swing a cat.

 

The World Health Organisation suggests this should be at least 9 square meters or nearly 50% more park space than the city has at present.

 

Arom said that the problem as money. A rai of land for potential parks costs on average around 3 million baht and the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority are struggling to afford even part of that.

 

Thavisa notes that one rai is approximately 1,600 square meters (40x40m). This is almost 0.4 of an acre.

 

Lumpini Park Bangkok's one decent "green lung" is 360 rai in size.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-09-22

[zakk9]

Yeah, because money is more important than health... 

[Boss]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The BMA has bemoaned the fact that it is just too expensive to provide Bangkokians with enough parks.

What are they smoking at BMA ??

[LatPhrao]

This topic PMO more than anything living in Bangkok.  Great cities have great parks for it's citizens.  Chivit was / is a genius for providing that little park on Sukhumvit.   If the moaning BMA had any balls they and the government would rule that high rise condo builders provide open space parks as a part of their permission to build another one of their monstrosities.

[happyinthailand]

The Tobacco Monopoly after many years of killing people should have given up its land off Rama 4 to be a park. This was really a no brainer. Instead it has been sold which has made the monopolised tobacco drug merchants even richer.  So much for government responsibility and conscience

[hawker9000]

Pretty much what you have to expect in most third world countries.

 

Hint:  3 submarines does NOT transform a third world country into anything but a (poorer) third world country with 3 submarines

[masuk]

3 hours ago, zakk9 said:

Yeah, because money is more important than health... 

Two years back, I had a pleasant holiday in Guangzhou.  It's a big bustling city, where diesel appears to be banned, motorbikes are all-electric, streets are tree-lined and I was amazed at the number of parks, the lakes, the pleasant walks.

Entrance to parks and beaches free if you show that you're over 65!  Farang or otherwise.

If Bangkokians are happy with concrete and glass, good luck to them!

[robertthesculptor]

They love slums and degradation. Also it gives HiSos more reason to feel superior....damned slime commeners

[LatPhrao]

59 minutes ago, masuk said:

Two years back, I had a pleasant holiday in Guangzhou.  It's a big bustling city, where diesel appears to be banned, motorbikes are all-electric, streets are tree-lined and I was amazed at the number of parks, the lakes, the pleasant walks.

Entrance to parks and beaches free if you show that you're over 65!  Farang or otherwise.

If Bangkokians are happy with concrete and glass, good luck to them!

Lived Guangzhou for 2 years, the many parks and small walk alongs to the streams were a pleasure.  There's one very large park in front of the main train station, enjoyed it many times day or night.  Also walking along the Pearl river.  

Would still pick Bangkok for living, but Guangzhou shows how a few relatively small concessions to open space or enhancing an existing natural stream give relief to living a big city.

[Krungbin]

2 hours ago, LatPhrao said:

This topic PMO more than anything living in Bangkok.  Great cities have great parks for it's citizens.  Chivit was / is a genius for providing that little park on Sukhumvit.   If the moaning BMA had any balls they and the government would rule that high rise condo builders provide open space parks as a part of their permission to build another one of their monstrosities.

Pretty good idea indeed...

[Deez]

Translation.  "No one bribes us to build parks"

[HooHaa]

2 hours ago, LatPhrao said:

This topic PMO more than anything living in Bangkok.  Great cities have great parks for it's citizens.  Chivit was / is a genius for providing that little park on Sukhumvit.   If the moaning BMA had any balls they and the government would rule that high rise condo builders provide open space parks as a part of their permission to build another one of their monstrosities.

nonsense.

Chuwit provided a park in an attempt to exonerate himself for destroying the shops and stalls of the tenants who were occupying the land. It was a publicity play an attempt to put a positive spin on his previous misdeeds.

that little park on sukhumvit is closed all day and is only acessible very early mornings and eveneings.

i used to walk by it EVERY day picking my daughter up from day care and have to explain that we couldnt go play in the park because the gates were locked.

Chuwit even went on record as saying the park was closed during the day so the local police (with whom he was angry over not receiving enough for his bribe money) can sleep there during the hot part of the day.

genius perhaps, but not for the reasons you infer.

[HooHaa]

2 hours ago, happyinthailand said:

The Tobacco Monopoly after many years of killing people should have given up its land off Rama 4 to be a park. This was really a no brainer. Instead it has been sold which has made the monopolised tobacco drug merchants even richer.  So much for government responsibility and conscience

they did donate alot of land and build another park, check your facts.

[Thaidream]

The BMA has definitely got the wrong idea about structuring large cities so people can enjoy living in them. Absolute nonsense to think that large parks cost too much.  The greenery alone absorbing the  gases from vehicles is worth the funding.  Bangkok is turning into a city with no thought and no direction.  Removal of the vendors was an idea gone too far. Instead, control and placement along Sukhumvit and other major streets would have been the proper thing. Thai people who work in the city cannot afford to go inside formal restaurants. It is incredible that Thai vendors are banished by the authorities and foreign vendors, pimps, foreign prostitutes and scammers are ignored.

 

We all know the reason why they won't build more parks and that is because they want to sell all the government controlled land to the highest bidder.  More malls and more high priced condo.s. The wealthy come in their chauffeur driven Benz; go shopping in high priced malls; and then return to their high priced condo's while the average Bangkokian can't find affordable street food or a green park to sit and relax after a long day. 

[jgarbo]

6 hours ago, zakk9 said:

Yeah, because money is more important than health... 

Parks in the tropics are not, per se, healthy. 

[realenglish1]

Sure you say it's too expensive Then stop  spending money on Submarines that you don't need and start spending it on parks and other areas the Thai people deserve 

[aussie11950]

Maybe the King of Thailand could donate some land in Bangkok that he owns.

He is a generous person and loves the people.

[Destiny1990]

How about more Condo parks?

 

[naboo]

My favourite parks are car parks. Grass is something you smoke, birds are something you shag.

[MyFriend You]

21 hours ago, LatPhrao said:

Lived Guangzhou for 2 years, the many parks and small walk alongs to the streams were a pleasure.  There's one very large park in front of the main train station, enjoyed it many times day or night.  Also walking along the Pearl river.  

Would still pick Bangkok for living, but Guangzhou shows how a few relatively small concessions to open space or enhancing an existing natural stream give relief to living a big city.

Twenty years ago Guangzhaou was so polluted by charcoal smoke, we only went out to get to work, then back to the hotel - I am surprised at the reports of it being clean and people friendly..........haven't been back since 1996.  Might be worth another look now I am retired.

[mike324]

On 9/22/2017 at 1:20 PM, happyinthailand said:

The Tobacco Monopoly after many years of killing people should have given up its land off Rama 4 to be a park. This was really a no brainer. Instead it has been sold which has made the monopolised tobacco drug merchants even richer.  So much for government responsibility and conscience

 

The entire Tobacco Monopoly will be converted into parks in phases, the newest phase of the park was just completed last year and is called  Suan Pa Benjakitti (Benjakitti Forest Park) accessible from  Gate 2 behind the Benjakitti Park carpark.. Tobacco Monopoly is government own, so nothing is sold.

 

There are two more phases of expansions before plot is converted. 

[LatPhrao]

On 9/22/2017 at 3:39 PM, HooHaa said:

nonsense.

Chuwit provided a park in an attempt to exonerate himself for destroying the shops and stalls of the tenants who were occupying the land. It was a publicity play an attempt to put a positive spin on his previous misdeeds.

that little park on sukhumvit is closed all day and is only acessible very early mornings and eveneings.

i used to walk by it EVERY day picking my daughter up from day care and have to explain that we couldnt go play in the park because the gates were locked.

Chuwit even went on record as saying the park was closed during the day so the local police (with whom he was angry over not receiving enough for his bribe money) can sleep there during the hot part of the day.

genius perhaps, but not for the reasons you infer.

Personally I give Chivit more credit than you.  I watched his interviews and he sounds like a smart irascible cookie.  Any many enjoy that park, save the times it's closed when the govt seems to use it as a cudgel against Chivit.    imho

[rickudon]

Instead of donating millions to dubious Buddhist temples, maybe donate money for parks? Create something useful and I'n sure better karma!