May 25, 2023

Bangkok's pocket parks: a healthier way to beat the heat

topic:	Sustainable Development
located:	Thailand
editor:	Jitsiree Thongnoi

In Bangkok, a high daily dose of PM2.5 (a health-compromising air pollutant) and extreme heat that could reach 45°C provide compelling reasons to visit one of the city's public parks - at least once a day - and cool down.

But green space is lacking in the Southeast Asian metropolis and its 15 million inhabitants are struggling to cope with the increasingly poor weather conditions. Air-conditioned office buildings or malls are a sure way to escape the heat, and most well-off, middle-class Bangkokians take advantage of this opportunity. But not everyone has the means or ability to frequent a mall for a respite from the heat.

Today, there are 40 main parks in Bangkok spanning a total area of 41 million square meters. Officially, the city has a green area ratio of 7.6sqm per capita, although some sources estimate the true ratio is 1.47sqm per capita, far less than the minimum ration of 9 sqm per capita recommended by the World Health Organization.

A recent study also found that Bangkok residents need to travel at least 4.5km on average to reach the nearest green space. The WHO recommendation is that people should be within 300m - 500m of green space.

Part of this has to do with Bangkok's sprawling urban waste land: about 28,800 hectares (18 percent of the city) are privately-owned and completely deserted, according to a 2007 survey by the Urban Design and Development Center at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University.

Other unused plots, most of them are in the pricey downtown area, are state-owned. This includes 80 hectares in Makkasan, 96 hectares at the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly factory, 400 hectares in Klong Toey and over 96 hectares under elevated expressways.

The lack of equal access to parks has a significant social and economic impact, as public space enhances social interaction, bridges economic gaps and generates economic opportunities. It is also a place to nourish culture and art.

For example, one of the first initiatives taken on by Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s after taking office last year was organising a “music in the parks” event. City residents emerged from their COVID lockdowns in droves to enjoy free music, fresh air and to mingle.

Seeing as the heavy bureaucracy surrounding Bangkok’s urban planning makes turning large plots of land into parks challenging, a project titled "15-minute park" now aims to make parks smaller and more ubiquitous instead.

The project builds micro-green spaces on small plots of land designated by local communities and the business sector. The mini-parks are located within 800-metre or a 15-minute walk from residential neighbourhoods.  

But Sittipunt’s scheme must be creative and incentivised in order to succeed. Pocket parks can be created out of government venues, empty land plots, blind spots and other deserted plots that are waiting to be developed or face legal restrictions for what can be built on them. In short, pocket parks can be erected truly anywhere.

The governor also promotes the development of privately-owned public space by encouraging project partners to reach agreements on space management with the city through tax reduction measures.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has so far secured 107 plots of land, with about a third of the contributions coming from the BMA, other agencies and the private sector. But increased participation is needed, as Sittipunt plans to build 30 additional pocket parks annually.

But quality, not only quantity, must be a priority. There are also plans underway to make parks safer, and ensure that infrastructure like restrooms, dressing rooms, lighting and security is accessible to all park users.

Extended service hours, designated hawkers’ areas, appropriate signage and easily accessible walkways and public transportation will be instrumental to ensure people can use parks to maximum benefits. 

Image by Rutpratheep Nilpechr.