Created from a scrap of land, a pocket park is a micro oasis of landscaped nature that can breathe new life into grey Bangkok. Spread across a lawn, flowers, shrubs and trees provide respite from the hustle and bustle. The use of solar cells does not cause any pollution. Its universally designed walkway is well-catered to all groups of visitors, including the disabled and elderly. Inside, there is a small space for exercise and leisure.
A life-sized replica of a 15-minute pocket park. (Photo: Thana Boonlert)
BMA Expo 2023 recently unveiled a life-sized replica of 15-minute pocket sanctuaries at the exhibition hall in Benjakitti Forest Park. City Hall held the three-day event to show its progress in implementing policies in nine areas, including the environment. Surrounded by numerous showcases, the blueprint invites visitors to relish the possibility of having an accessible compact park in their own communities.
Bangkok has been facing a shortage of public spaces. Currently, there are only 40 major parks. In his election campaign, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt vowed to create 15-minute pocket parks within walking distance of 800m of most homes. On the anniversary of his first year in office in June, he reported the construction of over 100 sites (of these, 28 are completed). By the end of his four-year tenure, the city will have a total of 500 miniparks.
Jacob Riis, a US social reformer and journalist, introduced this notion in 1897 when he was the secretary of a city committee on small parks. Any unused space not on the market came in handy. It was not until after World War II that ruined sites in Europe provided testbeds for his idea. Thomas Hoving, director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 60s and 70s who once served as a city parks commissioner, brought these compact havens to fruition, especially Paley Park.
"A greener Bangkok is feasible. The BMA's ramped-up efforts have already increased the ratio of green space from 7.6m² to over 8m² per capita," said Adisak Guntamueanglee, deputy director of the Urban Design and Development Center at Chulalongkorn University (UDDC), in a public seminar titled "Can Bangkok Go Greener?".
According to the BMA's Department of Environment, the green space is based on the calculation of the city's registered population. Green space includes all kinds of parks, including small gardens and traffic islands. Some critics, however, argue that the actual ratio would be around 3m² or lower, falling behind the World Health Organization's minimum standard of 9m². In addition, they challenge the BMA's broad and inconsistent definition of green space.
Adisak explained that converting available public and private space can increase green coverage. Any unused areas of motorways, roadsides, canal sides, rooftops and military-owned properties that open up some of their space for public use can fit the green bill. In collaboration with the BMA, the UDDC and partners organised the "Greener Bangkok Hackathon" that identified 21 potential areas in the city, including flyovers, fence gaps and car parks.
"By fully tapping these opportunities, the ratio of green space will go up to 24.5m² per capita," Adisak said.
Santi Opaspakornkij, a co-ordinator with the Big Trees Project, a social enterprise that supports the conservation of urban trees, demonstrated that the target of creating 500 pocket parks can be met by enlisting 100 sites from temples and schools; the courts; wild and agricultural land; old parks; and public and private contribution. He said, for example, there are more than 160,000 plots of wild or agricultural land in the suburbs.
The Bangkok City Model. (Photo: Thana Boonlert)
"Urbanisation and climate change make expansion of green spaces an urgent task. It can help cushion the impact of urban development," said Yossapon Boonsom, landscape architect and founder of we!park, a non-profit organisation that focuses on the development of green space. It is supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. "At the heart of the issue is the creation of good quality pocket parks, not the search for land."
Yossapon said these parks should fulfil the criteria of universal design, accessibility, safety, communal identity and maintenance. Staff training and a budget are also needed to create a self-functioning ecosystem. His successful attempts at carving out sanctuaries are Pa Sak Park on Vibhavadi Soi 5, Bangkok Noi Park and Klong San Park. In collaboration with the BMA, the group organised an event titled "Pop Park BKK" to showcase 30 prototypes running from July 22 to today.
"Around 90% of people in Asia are urban dwellers. Over 50% of Thais live in cities. Trees are accessible nature essential to our physical and mental health," said Asst Prof Kanokwalee Suteethorn, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Landscape Architecture.
"Obsolete guidelines preclude the possibility of turning small areas into parks. Despite formal characteristics, they should retain diversity to reflect their surroundings."
Asst Prof Kanokwalee cited a wide range of case studies. In San Francisco, the freeway forest helps mitigate the impact of emissions from cars. In Shanghai, the Thousand Park Project targets a lofty goal, including the creation of pocket parks within walking distance of 300-500m. In Seoul, the Gyeongchun Line Forest Park is a 6km-long path built on a former railway. In Oregon, Mill Ends Park is the world's smallest of its kind.
"A newspaper journalist [who worked in an office that overlooked the street] grew flowers and wrote a column. Since then, the tiny park played host to many activities. It helps raise awareness about the role of green space," she said.
Numchai Sansupa, president of the Thai Association of Landscape Architects, said collaboration is key to ensuring that the creation of green space meets quantity, quality and sustainability criteria.
A textbook example of a successful public-public partnership is Benjakitti Forest Park. The Treasury Department funded the design competition, oversaw construction and then entrusted the BMA to manage it. Public participation in art exhibitions and educational tours mean that the area is effectively utilised. Another is the merging of Queen Sirikit Park, Wachirabenchathat Park and Chatuchak Park, which will open soon.
Participants express confidence in greening the city. (Photo: Thana Boonlert)
