This is Mumbai’s ideal open space

After all the hoopla surrounding the lack of open spaces in Mumbai, Speak Up decides to take the issue to the next level and asks Mumbai families to design their ideal open space. What emerges is a verdant park that is a place of relaxation and rejuvenation for adults, as well as an educational and hygienic venue for children

The case for open spaces
What should be done with the spaces we already have?
Fight to keep people with sticky fingers away from them. Clean them. Leave them open; don't suffocate them with urban ideas of aesthetics. Allow nature to dominate such spaces. Make sure each such space is a chemical pesticide-free zone that is safe for children.

Should there be a focus on theme-based open spaces?
Mumbai already has theme-based open spaces: the mudflats surrounding us are natural mangrove theme parks, the national park is just that, a national park. The Jijamata Udyan or Rani Bagh is one of India's finest botanical gardens, but they want to turn it into an expensive zoo where animals will die, only to be replaced. We must stop such unimaginative trends. We do not lack funds. We lack imagination.

What amenities would you want to see in such public spaces?
Underground toilets for sure. Vermiculture and compost heaps, solar lighting for the periphery: Simple things.

What about security?
Each building in Mumbai has watchmen. But when 50 buildings surround an open space, the housing societies seem unable to find the will to finance even two watchmen to patrol the open space. We should not blame officials for everything, some part of the responsibility should be accepted by us.
—Bittu Sahgal. Editor, Sanctuary Magazine

Private areas will be popular
In the beginning, there were only playgrounds, but with time, open spaces have been customised to suit the needs of people. I predict that there will be fewer public open spaces in the future. There is a growing demand for spaces within residential campuses.

These gated communities usually have a swimming pool, a club, and a cafeteria. The trend is towards taller buildings and private spaces. So spaces like Azad maidan and the Oval maidan may lose their charm down the line.
—VK Pathak. Former chief planner, MMRDA

It will affect our social life
In small towns there are two- or three-storey buildings, but in a city like Mumbai we have multi-storey buildings and that's why we need more open spaces. The government, however, seems to think differently. Fewer open spaces will affect the psychology of the average Mumbaikar. It will affect the social life of people, because we meet people in parks when we go for walks, and a lack of these  places will cause social interaction to decrease.

In India, our social life is very important. Without proper open places, indoor activities will rise, and outdoor activities will come down. Children will gain weight because of a less active lifestyle; also heart and diabetic patients need to go for walks in fresh air.
—Dr Ashish Tiwari. Staff physician, Bombay Hospital

Hygienic toilets are needed
I feel there is a lack of open space and greenery in Mumbai. There is a lot of dust and pollution everywhere. At times, living in Mumbai is quite difficult. Other Indian cities have better parks and other recreation centres: KBR park in Hyderabad is a good example.

Gardens in Mumbai are not at all well-maintained. Also, the toilets are very unhygienic. Good toilets are a must in Mumbai parks, especially for children. As there are not many open spaces in Mumbai, we generally visit cinemas and malls and this doesn’t help in the all-round development of a child.
—Minal Patel, Palasa. Powai

A cafeteria is a must
These days, most Mumbaikars can afford to go to pay-parks. We don’t mind paying for the maintenance of the park, provided it is kept clean. Two of the main things I am looking for in a park are clean drinking water and hygienic toilets. I wouldn’t even mind a nice, cool cafeteria.

The most well maintained park that I have been to is La Villette in Paris. In Mumbai, there are hardly any open spaces left. When I was a kid, all us friends used to go and play on the street, as there were hardly any cars on the road at the time. There is no comparison between my childhood and that of our children. 
—Rohit and Komal Shinkra, Jahnvi and Nihal. Prabhadevi

It should have a jogging area
F irstly, what do you mean by open spaces? My child will never know what it means because she has never seen such a place in Mumbai. For me though, an open space means an expanse of green land where everyone — from a child to a senior citizen — can relax and get away from this mundane Mumbai life.

This is my idea of a perfect open space. In a few years’ time, when I become a senior citizen myself, I don’t know where I will go to relax. I would also love my ideal open space to have a jogging area. Our city’s planning is rusty.    
—Dr Sanjay and Deepali Baldota, Aarya. Malabar Hill

A pool would be nice
W e generally prefer to take our kids to open places, so they can play and enjoy their weekend. We do not have enough gardens or clean beaches in Mumbai, and most of them are not well-maintained: For example, Five Gardens in Dadar is not maintained at all.

A swimming pool is something most Mumbai parks should have. I am even ready to pay a membership fee, provided the park is kept clean. Also, security is a necessity in gardens, or any other open spaces, so that parents do not hesitate to take their kids there. We would definitely like our children to play in open grounds, rather than playing videogames.
—Vivek and Arpita Rawal, Mann and Mahek . Lower Parel

They should have zoos
W e seriously need more open spaces in Mumbai, especially for the children. We do not get enough fresh air in Mumbai. Children spend most of their time within the four walls of the house; hence they need a proper place for recreation.

Open places in Mumbai should offer educational value. There should be zoos and museums, so that the child’s learning process continues, even when they are out of their houses. I think Chowpatty is a good open space. We will pay money, if we are provided with well-maintained open spaces.
—Payal Mehta, Sakshi and Yahna. Lower Parel

A place to read would be great
M umbai hardly has any good parks, and those that we do have, are in bad condition. Today, the kids hardly have anywhere to go, except malls. I stay in Khar and there are only a few good places for my kids, like Carter road and the boating area at Vile Parle.

Mumbai is too polluted a city. Having a quiet reading space, with some light music, where one can sit and get engrossed in a book would be an advantage. The malls  hardly have any place to sit. Good seating areas should be made available in parks. Even in buildings, there is hardly any space for kids to play because most of the space available is taken over for parking.
—Disha Bhatia, Tia. Khar