City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Parks and Playground Acting Division Chief Engr. Juancho Dagasohan in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio recently said while Vicenta Park is nearing completion, the five other parks will soon be fully operational and open to the public.
Currently, the city has already 22 existing public parks in strategic locations.
He said the city still has plans to open more 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,” he said in a report from the City Information Office.
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.
Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras will also be installed inside the park.
The Bago Aplaya Esplanade 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 Duterte. It is among the six parks that will soon be fully operational.
"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.
The 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; and Jacinto Ponce Park.
Other parks include 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 and are awaiting to be inaugurated by the Mayor.
The Magsaysay Park will also be undergoing a total rehabilitation to keep in stride with the times, while Toril Park will also be refurbished with more amenities.
Dagasohan urged park goers to keep the parks clean and see to it to dispose garbage properly.
Davao City Botanical Garden at Ruby Street, Marfori Heights Subdivision. Photo from Davao Crypto Daily