The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to add at least 30 large parks across its newly added areas, with an investment of ₹60 crore. These areas, which include neighborhoods like Madhavaram, Manali, Sholinganallur, and Perungudi, have long been underserved in terms of recreational spaces, forcing residents to travel long distances to access larger parks in the city’s core. The proposed initiative aims to rectify this imbalance and address the growing demand for open spaces in these rapidly developing localities.
While Chennai’s core city area boasts several sprawling parks exceeding 10 acres in size, the situation in its extended zones is starkly different. For instance, Tower Park in Anna Nagar and Semmozhi Poonga on Dr Radhakrishnan Salai are popular destinations for those seeking large parks, yet the added areas often lack similar facilities. Deputy Mayor of Chennai stated that these newly added areas, which now house approximately 30% of the city’s population, primarily feature small roadside parks, most of which are under one acre in size. To tackle this shortfall, the GCC has instructed its zonal offices to identify open space reservation (OSR) lands and other underutilised GCC-owned properties for the development of larger parks. Work on the project is expected to begin soon, marking a significant step towards addressing the city’s green space deficit. Chennai’s existing park infrastructure has not kept pace with the city’s expanding urbanisation. Over the last 14 years, only one major park, the 358-acre Adyar Eco Park, was established, while the rest of the city’s parks—of which there are 835—are either small or located in areas with limited population density. Out of these, just 24 parks stretch over two acres, with the majority concentrated in the core city. The added areas, despite housing nearly a third of Chennai’s population, feature only two parks of significant size—one each in Manali and Sholinganallur. Furthermore, only 12 of the 40 medium-sized parks (ranging from 1.2 to 2.4 acres) are located in these zones.
In light of this disparity, local residents have voiced their concerns over the lack of adequate green spaces in their areas. For instance, a resident of the OMR locality pointed to a large parcel of HR & CE department land near Semmenchery that could potentially be developed into a park. This land, they argue, is currently underutilised and could serve as the perfect site for a much-needed recreational area with facilities such as a walking track. Such suggestions highlight the demand for large parks equipped with circular walking tracks, which are often missing in the newly added areas of the city. Madhavaram, which houses a botanical park, is another area where residents have expressed the need for more accessible recreational spaces. Although the upcoming Villivakkam Eco-Park will provide some relief, it is still located 10 km away, making it less accessible for those living in areas like Madhavaram. Furthermore, there is a push to transform the Madhavaram Periya Thoppu lake into an eco-park complete with a walking track, a proposal that has gained traction among local civic activists.
With Chennai’s green cover currently at a mere 5%—far below the globally recommended 33%—the issue of inadequate green spaces has become a significant urban challenge. The growing need for large parks in expanding areas is compounded by the need for the city to focus on climate-positive initiatives. Some councillors have called for the establishment of a dedicated climate change department within the GCC, as outlined in the Chennai Climate Action Plan of 2023. This department would focus on addressing the environmental concerns that exacerbate the city’s challenges related to heat, pollution, and the rapid loss of green cover. As the city continues to grow, the need for comprehensive urban planning that incorporates green spaces becomes increasingly urgent. The GCC’s plans to develop new parks in underserved areas could mark a critical step in rectifying the current imbalance. However, for these initiatives to succeed, it will be vital for local authorities to collaborate with residents and environmental experts to ensure that these spaces not only meet the recreational needs of the population but also contribute to improving the city’s overall sustainability and quality of life.
