Pocket parks

One of the major deficiencies of our metropolis is the lack of open green space. Urban development here has been so uncontrolled that every bit of real estate is built on or concreted over for parking. Very little opportunity exists for courtyards, plazas, and much less public parks. There are, however, opportunities for little pockets of open and sometimes green space in dense cities like ours. Other cities like New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Singapore have learned to appropriate little corners of their city for amazingly refreshing little "pocket parks."

Today let me show you two such pocket parks in the center of sunny Singapore. The central business district in the island nation is adjacent to the Chinatown section of the city. The old shophouses that contained both places of business as well as residences on the upper floors gave way to skyscrapers and mega structures. Prime land was next to the Singapore River while a little further away, in Chinatown itself, much remained the same in terms architecture. The 1980s brought in a sense of cultural heritage that thankfully stopped the demolition of this historic section of the city.

The continuing evolution of the larger area into a modern CBD (central business district) displaced any open space save for the central square called Raffles Place. Under an Urban Redevelopment Authority framework, the Singapore Tourism Board decided that the adjacent Chinatown district provided a chance to create "pockets" of open green space that could soften the harsh urban landscape as well as make the already pedestrian-friendly streets of Singapore even friendlier to locals and tourists alike.

Two locations provided the opportunities for these–Telok Ayer and Ann Siang Hill. Telok Ayer was an empty lot of 700 square meters in the middle of a city block. Not far away was a slope on what was called Ann Siang Hill that bridged the gap between two sections of Chinatown.

Telok Ayer Park was between two heritage structures–a Hindu and a Chinese temple. Both were still used and both were key tourist spots in the city (both conserved and well maintained). The park was to provide seating areas for travelers as well as locals working in offices nearby. The park also served as a pedestrian connector between two busy streets. The landscape architecture was to respect the two temples as well as provide shade and interest to passersby.

The landscape architect/urban designer provided a free-flowing path finished with granite and edged with lush buffer planting that camouflaged the walls of both temples. Seats with trellises that mimicked boat frames (the area was actually part of the old harbor) lined this path. A larger open area at the back allowed for a decorative pond and a mini-waterfall that generated sounds of trickling water good for masking traffic noise.

For reference to the place’s history, three sculptural vignettes were installed. Each reflect a historic function or tradition of the area. There is a sculpture of a lighter (that ferried produce from ships to the quays), a lantern festival group (a seasonal Chinese celebration) and a group of merchants trading. Each was cast in bronze and is life-size. Historical markers provide a written narrative that embellishes the experience for tourists and locals alike.

Continuing just on your trek just over a hundred meters away is the Ann Siang Hill Park. The park is actually another pedestrian connector carved out of previously useless space on a slope between two sides of Chinatown. The designer made good use of the slope to create a grand covered staircase (actually two–one being a spiral staircase and even more delightful is the wooden terrace or deck, which is very popular in the evenings for restaurants nearby).

As with the Telok Ayer Park, this park also has historical significance which provides a sense of place. A historic well (the first in the area) from the 19th century was rebuilt and provided with a historic marker. On the upper level, references to the shophouses used as clan centers for immigrant Chinese provide color to the district. The landscape features frame views of the modern city while providing resting places (there is even a seat swing) for passersby and patrons of nearby establishments.

Telok Ayer Park and Ann Siang Hill are both well lit at night. During the day heavy pedestrian traffic passes through both because MRT stations are accessed through. Foreign tourists also find them as welcome shortcuts between the shiny new CBD towers and the more historic sections of the city. Shade from full-grown trees abound and color from shrubs and well-maintained planting beds create delightful settings to enjoy the city.

Pocket parks can and do provide needed relief for urbanites in the middle of dense cities. Larger city and suburban parks are still needed as "lungs" for the city and to provide recreational opportunities for city dwellers. The psychological benefits of green open space have been proven to reduce stress and encourage leisure activities. That’s why the Singapore government provided parks and open spaces on the same priority as housing, education and support for business. To them parks are not out-of-pocket expenses but necessary investments to ensure healthy citizens and delighted tourists.

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Next week–more pocket parks, one in New York and another in our very own Ortigas Center.

Feedback is welcome. Please e-mail the writer at paulo.alcazaren@gmail.com.