Citizens have demanded extended daytime access to public parks as a climate and public health measure in South Bengaluru. HeatWatch Foundation, an NGO working on extreme heat adaptation, backed by residents of the area, petitioned MLA for Jayanagar C.K. Ramamurthy on Thursday to keep parks in his constituency open through the day.
Several parks have been closed during peak afternoon hours, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., despite an order from the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in 2024, mandating parks be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., the petition pointed out.
The foundation acknowledged that the restricted timing may be a measure to tackle administrative challenges such as maintenance, staffing, and security, but argued that closing parks during the hottest parts of the day does little to address the issues. Instead, people, particularly outdoor workers and daily wagers, continue to seek shade in surrounding areas lacking proper shelter, it said.
The letter stated that those most affected include delivery personnel, street vendors, sanitation workers, construction labourers, and security guards. “Closure does not eliminate the need for such spaces but shifts it outside park boundaries without adequate protection,” the letter noted.
