DAVAO CITY—With the opening of the newly renovated 1-hectare Toril Public Park in Agton Street, Toril District, Davao City now has 26 public parks spread across the three districts of the city.
According to Engineer Juancho Dagasohan Parks and Playgrounds Chief of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) they totally facelifted the park which is located between the Toril District Hall and the Toril Public Market.
“Naa na ta’y (We have) children’s fun park, senior citizen’s fitness area, comfort rooms, parking space, bike racks, and walking or jogging area, Dagasohan said.
He said people of all ages can enjoy the facilities and amenities inside the park.
The park is intended as a leisure space for residents living in Toril or its environs. Toril, one of Davao City administrative districts, is situated 17 kilometers from Davao City proper.
“Gi-abrihan sa gobyerno sa siyudad sa davao didto masinati makita and ma feel ninyo ang kahayahay sa park na palibot,” Dagsohan said.
(The park was opened by the local government of Davao as a place where you can feel the relaxing ambiance in its surroundings.)
The City Government of Davao has embarked on building public parks and green spaces to provide the public living in densely populated urban areas with havens of relaxation and leisure.
Among the recently-opened parks include the two Davao City Coastal Road Parks; the Bago Esplanade and the Gulf View Esplanade. In Los Amigos Calinan they also opened the Los Amigos Park and in the downtown area it also opened to the public the 1.2-hectare Doña Vicenta Park.
The City also established several pocket parks; these include the Candelaria Park, the Communal Pocket Park, and the Matina Linear Park. Set to open is the Roxas Greenway Park located in Roxas Avenue.
Several parks are also planned to be built along several segments in the Davao City’s Coastal Road. And plans are underway to enhance the 4-hectare People’s Park situated in Davao City’s downtown.
Magsaysay Park is set for an upgrade as it was the recipient of a P15-million cash grant, a prize won by the City Government from the Tourism Champions Challenge for a tourism and culture hub inside the park.
According to environmentalists the building of parks by the City Government of Davao is a laudable move.
“Parks play a big role specially in mitigating heat and also provides an avenue in terms of social action, there are lots of people like children enjoying the park,” says Justin Joshua Pungyan, Environmental Research Officer of the NGO Interfacing Development Interactions for Sustainability (IDIS).
Pungyan says parks and their trees provide cooler spaces amidst the searing heat of the urban area.
“In front of the Toril park is the (Toril) district hall, it is surrounded by trees and if you notice if you happen to pass by there it is much cooler than the surrounding areas,” Pungyan said.
He hopes that every barangay in the city will have public space or parks not just to mitigate urban heat but also a place where people can relax and destress. (PIA/RGA)
