Perungalathur residents yearn for public park

As a result, the park has now turned into a garbage dumping ground. Senior citizens and children are forced to travel for two km to access the nearest park.

After a request by residents for a recreational facility, the public park was opened by the municipality about 10 years ago.

The park also received good patronage as several people, including children, used it.

The park’s proximity to a local school also added to its popularity.

But seven years back, the park was closed suddenly without proper information, residents said.

The park has remained closed till date. Following this, residents said that kids have no place to play after the school hours, while the elderly people have lost a safe walking path.

“We used to spend our evenings relaxing in the park, which had several trees. Kids enjoyed playing in the park a lot. But now we have to nowhere to go as there is no other park within a two-kilometre distance,” said Sovin, a resident of Perungulathur who runs a shop near the park.

When contacted, Peerkankaranai town panchayat Executive Officer (EO) Shantha Jayakumar said, “We are planning to open the park again.

But the problem is that the soil found in the park is unsuitable for the growth of trees. We are working on it and hopefully the park will be opened early next year.”