Silence! In this public space!

by A Special Correspondent

No public entertainment in this space, the Anna Nagar Tower Park. (Picture: R. Raja Pandian.)

A notice by the City Corporation, prohibiting group dance and musical instruments in the Tower Park in Anna Nagar and threatening police action against violators, has rightly disappointed citizens.

Public parks are meant to provide people a congenial facility for physical exercise, a place for recreation and experiencing nature. Many of them, in other comparable cities, do  also offer space and facility for open events of art and music. In old Madras itself, the Corporation Band or Police Band used to play for about half an hour in the evenings on specific days of the week at nominated places like the Beach, Panagal Park, My Ladye’s Garden etc. In the tsunami of expansion and rise of hideous piles of masonry everywhere, Nature, music and art have been washed away.

Design of Urban Public Space and how to blend it with living and work spaces have lately been the subject of concern and research by architects and environmentalists. In many countries, the design of public space and the rules for its use are given serious attention by city development and municipal authorities. Space and resource being limited, innovative designs blend to meet the needs of utility, health and art. The outcome of such efforts dispels the notion that designing and earmarking of public space is only for rich countries. In fact, they show that prior planning and imagination – and strict enforcement of codes of conduct – could make for a more livable city at affordable outlay. Park complexes where, in one part, there is a mini amphitheater with a central space for cultural performances are found in many cities of comparable affluence as Chennai. The atmosphere on evenings in such a setting is delightful and worth remembering.

We do have parks in Chennai. We could have had more parks and larger ones had we not missed many opportunities. The whole large area in Guindy complex has been used up for memorials and so have large areas on the Marina beach. Large parks in the same areas could have preserved beautiful memories of our great leaders forever and in a more aesthetic way. The same could be said of manram-s that occupy several grounds in central localities serving no purpose to families and children seeking clean air and interesting outings. Parks would become livelier with some music once in a way and we hope the Corporation would reverse its puritanical decision.

While, in the case of parks, it is an issue of enlarging the scope of use, the gross usurpation of public space and denial of rights of pedestrians to walk safely from place to place is a more serious issue. Authorities are, in effect, tolerating illegitimate use of public space earmarked for pedestrians. This must be stopped. Pavements for pedestrians must become a single point agenda for the City Authorities till the objective is achieved and within a short time frame. Cost may not be in thousands of crores but perhaps a few hundreds of crores. What is needed is recognition of the problem and the will to correct it, as we have stated so often before.

There should be no misconception concerning access and use of public space. It does not entitle anyone to use it for any purpose. It is a place that is generally open and accessible to people – but for a prescribed purpose. Backing of a powerful continuous campaign to inculcate pedestrian discipline is also necessary. When persuasion fails, a few strict enforcement would deter other potential offenders.

Well-designed large parks as creative public space, in every locality, should be constructed at every opportunity whenever there is occasion. Meanwhile, at least in larger parks music should be allowed, say, once a week. The Chennai Corporation should at the same time move on a war footing to retrieve public space from illicit occupation and provide safe, usable pavements for pedestrians.

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