A new public park abutting Central World, in Bangkok’s main luxurious shopping district, is scheduled to open by the end of this year.
The Pathumwananuruk Park spans 6.4 hectares (64,000 sqm.) and stands on the most expensive plot of land in the entire country, according to Land Process, one of the project’s landscape architects.
The urban forest, funded by the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), is intended to increase Bangkok’s green space and become a tribute to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to Mango Zero.
When viewed from above, the trees are arranged to look like a Thai numeral nine to reference the late, who was also widely known as King Rama IX.
Plans to build a park dedicated to the much revered king have been in talks since 1995, said Thana Khachaphrai, chief of the business projects division for the CPB, in an interview with BK Magazine but construction did not start until the end of last year.
It seems that this project is exactly what Bangkok needs. After assessing the city’s population density in parallel to its green space per capita, a “Green City” report by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) found Bangkok to be “below average.”
Luckily, Pathumwananuruk Park is not the only lush space being developed in the city. Another, called CU Centenary Park, is being built near National Stadium. And, with any luck, green space in the capital will continue to increase.
In the words of Kermit the Frog, a longtime green advocate: “It’s not easy bein’ green,” but try and try again, we must.
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