Zarina Patel

Fresh and unpolluted air is vital for good health. It cleans our lungs and helps to keep brain sharper and smart. One of the best ways to enjoy the benefits of fresh air is to spend quality time in parks, garden, and green spots. Trees, plants, and flowers are not only ensuring steady supply of oxygen, they also provide relaxation of mind and soul. Therefore, green space is a key consideration in every urban planning.

In developed countries, cities are not just comprised of buildings and houses there are sufficient spaces for people’s recreation and relaxation. From London Zoo, Central Park Network, Royal Botanical Garden Australia to Shalimar Garden Lahore parks are serving to keep the urban atmosphere healthy and hearty.

Benefits of green spaces in cities

Green spots and parks in cities play important role in maintaining healthy environment. Fresh air is a source of oxygen, which brings freshness of mind and improves concentration. Greenery in parks and gardens helps you to think better and increase your energy level.

Parks and green spaces motivate to increase levels of physical activities. One study found that people who use public green spaces are three times more likely to achieve recommended levels of physical activity than those who do not use the spaces.

A local park plays a vital role in a locality’s healthy environment. Every tree and plant in the garden is nature’s weapon to fight against pollution, toxic fumes, and urban warming by reducing the amount of poisonous gases in the atmosphere and help cool cities.

The city of Karachi needs more parks and gardens

Karachi is one of Pakistan’s largest cosmopolitan cities. The rapid growth of population has brought many problems for Karachiites. Construction of buildings and roads have damaged the landscape of the city and severely affected the urban green spaces.

Even though their number is less than the need of the growing population of the city, some green spaces, parks, and gardens are providing the recreational facilities to Karachiites.

Zoological Garden

Karachi Zoological Garden is one of Karachi’s top attractions and is the country’s oldest zoo founded about 118 years ago. Its interesting background also plays a part to make it one of the tourist attracted historical place of the country. British government of India in 1843 had decided to construct a vegetable and dairy farm for the facility for its citizens in a land situated at present near Nishter Road and Sir Aga Khan Road (third) Karachi. The work was completed under the supervision of Major Blenching during the period of Sir Charles Napier.

Despite of many shortcomings, this historical place is a source of fun, recreation, and education for people of all ages. Located at the center of the city, the zoo is home of around 450 birds of different species, 180 mammals, and nearly 200 reptiles. There are 100 small and large cages for keeping the animals.

The park occupies 33 acres of the land with huge mystic shady trees spacious lawns, play areas and lake, a natural habitat for many species of ducks, geese, and swans where children and elders get opportunity to enjoy nature and its beauty.

The zoo is divided into different areas, which are great fun to explore and help make it one of Karachi’s most popular tourist attractions. The most popular area is Elephant home, which especially draw the attention of little children. The Mughal Garden, once an ideal location for shooting film scenes, is one of the main attractions of the zoo. It contains beautiful flower bushes and fountains.

Aladin Amusement Park

The biggest family amusement and recreational area is located at Rashid Minhas Road. Families from entire Sindh come to enjoy healthy activities and fun. The main attraction of the park is the amazing family rides. There are over 40 varieties of rides which require a full day to enjoy all the rides. The most popular rides are Free Fall, Crazy Boat, Pirate Ship, Trica, and Tower, Flying Carpet, Dogem Car, Chair Lift, and Ferris Wheel etc.

The park provides parking space of 400 cars and 150 motor bikes and a delectable food court.

Safari Park

The park covers 148 acres area in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The family park first opened its gates for visitors in 1970. The Safari Park is one of the most anticipated attractions of the city. The main attractions of the park include Swan Lake; a natural lake is located featuring a pagoda style-sitting place. The 10 minutes long chairlift ride, which sets up for a cost of US$ 2 million in 2006. A private theme park featuring ropes course, paintball, quad biking, indoor climbing and a mini golf course, and Elephant enclave: An enclave of about 65,000 square including a bathing space and resting area for the elephants has been constructed in the park for the joy of visitors and the elephants.

Jahangir Park

The park is recently renovated at the cost of 220 million rupees. It covers the 5.3 acres of land in the heart of Saddar adjacent to the famous Empress Market. The parkland was gifted to the citizens in the late 18th century by a Zoroastrian well-wisher of Karachi.

Beautiful lightings, fountains, benches, and excellent woodwork are main attractions of the parks. There are two reverse osmosis plants, one providing 50,000 gallons of drinking water per day and the other providing water to water the plants in the park, have been established. The park also features its own security system under which closed-circuit television cameras have been installed, along with a command and control centre. These cameras would also cover the vicinity around the park.

Askari Park and Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Park

These two parks are located in District East. Askari Park is located between the crowded residential areas of Old Sabzi Mandi. The main attraction is Wildlife Aquarium, Jogging Track, Reptilian House, Play Land, and Skating Park.

The Aziz Bhatti Park was developed in 1972 by Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and handed over to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in 1992. The park has 37 acres land but only 7 to 8 acres area is developed as park and remaining is still plain ground.

Talimi Bagh

The park is located in Federal B. Area suburb of Gulberg Town. This green space plays a vital role in protecting the environment of the district central of the Karachi. The small park is surrounded by residential buildings and houses. However, it offers fulfilled atmosphere to its visitors. The attractive seasonal flowers and trees, caged animals, horse riding, jogging track, small lake, mini train, and many slides and swings are prominent features of the park.

Nasim Ahmed Park

In Karachi, only few housing societies have well organized family parks for there residents. One such well maintained park is located inside the KDA overseas Bungalows Gulistan-e-Johar. Those who like greenery and nature, this is an ideal place to be in with family and friends. Unlike most of the Karachi parks, this park has no entry fees. The park is famous for the annual spring flowers exhibition, food festivals, and EID festivals and literary activities.

There is a wide area for walking and jogging. Most people came in the early morning to exercise for the fitness as well as there are comfortable benches available for sitting. For children different types of swings are available such as a seesaw, toddler coaster etc.

Zamzama Park

The park is one of the beautiful, and well organized green spot of Karachi. It is located in the posh area of DHA Karachi. The park spreads over 26 acre of the land. Jogging tracks, walking paths, monuments, roller blading enclosure, refreshment stand, and playground are prominent features of the park. The display center and head office of Pakistan Bonsai Society is also located inside the park. Seasonal flowers, trees, and grassy area have made the park an ideal relaxation and recreation place.

Water Parks

Water parks offer visitors a perfect remedy to beat scorching summer heat. There are about six famous water parks near Karachi. All parks feature a number of rides, water sports, games and slides that make visitors forget about the summer sun. The most popular are water slide, twin pool, giant lazy pool, family hill slide, family jumbo, twin tunnel slide, and child park etc.