The children’s park in Anna Nagar in Tiruchi presents a picture of neglect with broken seats and swing sets.
| Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY
Several public parks in Tiruchi remain unused due to inadequate maintenance and the absence of caretakers.According to sources, the city has about 300 public parks in five zones. Most of them were established between 2018 and 2021. They have fallen into disrepair due to the absence of inadequate maintenance.Except for the parks in major areas such as Ibrahim Park on West Boulevard Road and Science Park in Anna Nagar, several parks in the city are in a neglected stage. The public parks in interior residential areas are in worst condition. Overgrown vegetation and the broken walkways are the hallmark of many parks. The amusement equipment remains damaged and fountains in some of the parks have gone dry.With a view to enhance the beauty of the Uyyakondan canal and to engage the people of Pattabiraman Pillai Salai and various residential colonies in Anna Nagar, the Corporation built a park near the Uzhavar Sandhai. However, the users complain that it invariably remains locked. In the absence of public usage, plants, grass and weeds grow on the walkways.“No caretaker is available at the park. It does not serve the purpose of its establishment as it always remains closed,” says M. Nachimuthu, a city resident.They rue that despite investing a significant amount in creating these parks, the civic body has not allocated sufficient funds for their maintenance. Except for a few parks, it does not have an established system of maintenance and upkeep of parks.R. Thiruvengadam, a civic activist, said the Tiruchi Corporation should list the parks that did not have caretakers and the routine maintenance mechanism. Action should be taken to post caretakers or watchmen to prevent further degradation. Published - July 18, 2026 09:00 pm IST
