Mangal Eri Park @ Mogappair – Park around a Lake!
Mangal Eri Park – Mogappair West, Chennai.
I like the Mangal Eri park at Mogappair, Chennai mainly for one reason – the park is built around a lake. It seems the lake covers around 5 acres and the walkway built around it covers about 500 meters.
They are constructing amenities in the park and it is not as impressive as larger parks like the neighboring Tower park (yet) but this one, like the Chitlambakkam eri park, sets an important precedent – the importance of having neighborhood lakes at every area. If it comes with a park with walkway around it, even better.
The corporation is already building a number of parks and I think every area has at least one – many actually. But I don’t see a lake or a water body anywhere. Most of the existing lakes have been/are converted into real estate, and we’ve already seen the disastrous effect that can have during the 2015 floods.
It’s important to have neighborhood lakes because it acts as a reservoir for rainwater, it recharges the groundwater table, excess rainwater can be diverted into these lakes hence avoiding flooding, it enables aqua-ecosystems like fishes, birds, plants, etc. to flourish, it is possible to have leisure activities like boating, it reduces pollution and encourages walking, exercising, playing for kids, etc.
And best of all, a park + lake looks so fresh and green to the eyes! I wish corporation would make it mandatory to have at least one lake in each area, like how they have done with parks.
Destination Infinity
Thanks for introducing this park.
My pleasure 🙂
Destination Infinity
Yes, we need more parks and lakes in our city! After facing water scarcity and then floods, this type of park and lake is very important!
Yes, if we conserve maximum water from floods, we will not have water scarcity. I feel local lakes are a good way to do that, in addition to rain water harvesting systems.
Destination Infinity
Indeed we need to preserve the existing lakes and waterbody and creating a park around is a wonderful idea to make boundary from further encroachments. I will try to visit this lake park sometime
Lovely slideshow
It is important to also construct new lakes in every area so that they can serve as rainwater catchments.
Destination Infinity
Interesting park.