The City Government of Davao has built six new open parks, with the 1.2-hectare Vicenta Park set to open in September 2022.
City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Parks and Playground Acting Division Chief Engr. Juancho Dagasohan, during the Go Clean, Go Green sa DCDR program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired on Tuesday, August 9, said while Vicenta Park is nearing completion, the five other parks will soon be fully operational and open to the public.
Davao City already has city 22 existing public parks in strategic locations.
Dagasohan said, “Ang lokal na panggamhanan nagaplano pa gyud og more open spaces and parks nga pagabuhaton. Actually naa man gud ni ginatawag nga Green Foundation, dapat kaakibat sa population balanse against the open park. Ginaapas sa syudad nga kinahanglang balanse ang population sa Davao naa sya’y corresponding open parks para ngadto magrelaks ang mga bata ug mga hamtong (The local government is still planning more open spaces and parks to be created. Actually, there is something called the Green Foundation that encourages a balance of the population with open parks. The city strives to balance the population of Davao with corresponding open parks for children and adults to relax).”
The lot where Vicenta Park is being built is donated by the Marfori family.
He said it is a big recreational park best for families to hang out as it has a library, multi-purpose building for activities, an amphitheater, pathways and pathwalks, and a bike lane, among other amenities. CCTV cameras will also be installed inside the park.
The Bago Aplaya Esplande and Gulf View Esplanade, along the Davao Coastal Road, are not yet fully open to the public although it was earlier inaugurated by Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. It is among the six parks that will soon be fully operational.
“Ginapaabot nalang ang turnover paper sa DPWH pero dili na na maabtan og isa ka tuig (We’re just waiting for the turnover paper from the Department of Public Works and Highways but it will not last one year anymore),” Dagasohan said, adding that it may open in October or December this year.
Davao City’s 22 existing parks are the Bonifacio Park at the rotunda of A. Pichon Street (Magallanes) and C.M Recto Street; Candelaria Park at corner Sandawa; Calinan Park in Calinan Poblacion, Centennial Monument Park fronting San Pedro Cathedral and Sangguniang Panlungsod Building; Davao City Botanical Park at Marfori Heights Subdivision; Doña Carmen Marfori Soriano Park under the Dacudao-Buhangin flyover; Freedom Park across Roxas Avenue fronting Marco Polo and the Philippine National Red Cross; Jacinto Ponce Park; Julian Rodriguez Park along Quezon Boulevard fronting Mabini Public Market; Magsaysay Park; Matina Linear Park near Davao City Water District; Millenium Park along Roxas Avenue fronting Freedom Park; Mintal Park; Nograles Park fronting Central Bank; Osmeña Park; iconic People’s Park; Quezon Park fronting the City Hall Building; Rizal Park; Sandawa Park; Sta. Ana Wharf Park; and Toril Park.
Three other parks that were already built are the Bucana Pocket Park, Communal Pocket Park, and Los Amigos Pocket Park.
In a phone interview with the City Information Office on Thursday, August 11, Dagasohan said, “Na-build na ning tulo ka pocket parks pero ginapaabot nalang na ma-inaugurate ni Mayor (The three pocket parks were already built but we are just waiting for the Mayor to inaugurate it).”
He also said Magsaysay Park will undergo a total rehabilitation to keep in stride with the times, while Toril Park will also be refurbished with more amenities.
Dagasohan, however, urged parkgoers to keep the parks clean and dispose of their garbage properly.
