A children’s park in Chennai’s Agathiyar Nagar has remained unused because an electricity transformer inside the premises has raised safety concerns, leaving families across more than 15 streets without a functioning local play space.
The park, maintained by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), contains swings, slides and other play equipment. However, overgrown shrubs, fallen leaves and deteriorating upkeep have left the facility largely dormant, according to residents quoted by DT Next.
Residents said they had raised concerns about the transformer even before the park was inaugurated several years ago. Thilagabama, a long-time resident, said families had earlier taken their children to the park but stopped doing so because they felt the location was unsafe.
“They should have constructed the park elsewhere,” she said, adding that residents had pointed out the transformer when the facility was being planned.
The closure has become more visible after the inauguration of a CMDA sports complex in the vicinity. The complex has brought more residents to the area, with people using facilities including badminton courts and a gym. But residents said the sports complex has not removed the need for a separate play area for younger children.
“After the inauguration of the sports complex, many people started coming to play badminton and use the gym. Many times, there is no space for children,” said Koushik, a father of a seven-year-old boy.
Parents said the children’s play area at the sports complex can become crowded quickly. They believe the unused Corporation park could serve a useful purpose if the transformer-related risk is addressed and regular maintenance is restored.
“With proper safeguards and maintenance, the park can be a good play area for residents of Agathiyar Nagar and Ponvizha Nagar,” Koushik said.
The situation highlights two linked responsibilities in the management of small public spaces: ensuring that facilities are safe before they are opened and maintaining them after residents begin using them. In this case, the park is the only designated children’s play space identified by residents for the surrounding neighbourhoods, but its physical condition has worsened during the period of disuse.
Ward councillor Sudha Deenadhayalan acknowledged that the transformer was one of the reasons the park had been closed. She said she would speak to Corporation engineers about the issue and explore measures to make the space safe for children.
The next step is expected to be an assessment by Corporation engineers of the transformer’s location and the safeguards required before the park can be considered for reopening.
