Community Parks

I had heard about community parks in a localities  but had not lived in a locality with these parks.One comes across articles in newspaper when citizens raise campaigns to save the community parks around their homes.I would normally just ignore it as another trivia news.However I realized the value of community parks not in India but while I was in Kuwait.

I was staying at Salmia in Kuwait and decided to go for a jog daily to the only green space amidst  the concrete jungle.The park is maintained fairly well given that the water scarcity and weather in Kuwait makes it difficult for trees to grow.

If one removes the rows of trees in the park,one can mistake the cemented path in the park as a busy street.People,majorly from Indian sub continent are the ones who frequent the park in the evening.For the people of all classes who live in the community,it is the most affordable and achievable option by which they can take care of their health.After a busy working day,people of all classes come down to spend some quite time with themselves.It is a delight to see both young and old on the same path if not the same platforms.

Many a children have only this outdoor space,it is here that they breath fresh air and bind socially..something which is getting lost in the  individualistic society.Many ladies get way from the monotony of daily chores to share their space with other ladies.

For an outsider,it is difficult to realize what the park means to the locality but if one spends few evenings in such a park,he will know what the park means to the community.

While other things change color and shapes in a locality..its the green of the community park which stays on..reminding the residents of their memories and also  helping them live long enough to preserve these memories.