Phu Huu Park recently opened in Thu Duc City providing new green space for locals. — Photo sggp.org.vn

Under the plan, the city will add 450ha of public parks and 10ha of public green space by 2025. By 2030, there will be one square metre of parks and 3-4sq.m of general green space per capita.

Urban planning expert Dr. Pham Sanh said the main cause for a shortage of green space in the city is the lack of State funds allocated for greenery projects. 

Funds have been used for other urgent needs such as schools, hospitals and infrastructure items. 

To pave the way for the plan, the Department of Construction will recall all public parks used for private purposes and call for investment from companies to open up new public areas with high quality.

The city will also take action to move factories out of residential zones and use that land to create new public parks with plenty of trees.

Do Anh Khang, vice chairman of Go Vap District People’s Committee, said that it was high time for the city to build more green parks and plant more trees. 

The city is planning to develop the new Thu Duc City as a green city by planting more trees on streets and in parks and opening 26 new parks.

Phu Huu Park covers 3,500sq.m and costs VND4 billion (nearly US$174,000). It has a kids' zone, a working-out area with facilities, and a walking area, providing green space for locals to exercise and relax.

This is expected to open in late 2021 and has so far received positive feedback.

Besides Phu Huu Park, HCM City also plans to complete six more new green parks across the city this year.

They include Cay Sop (District 12) and Rach Tra (Hoc Mon) on Bui Thi Diet Street (Cu Chi), a park in the National University area (Tan Binh), and Ca Cam Park along Tran Xuan Soan Street (District 7).

A report of the Vietnam Environment Administration last year said the city built only 445ha of green space, though the set target was 10,300ha.

The city had 369 parks covering more than 500ha in public places and residential areas, or 0.55sq.m per capita.  

VNS

HCM City seeks to build more parks, expand greenery

The HCM City People’s Committee has instructed the Department of Construction to come up with a comprehensive programme for building public parks and increasing the green cover over the next decade.

HCM City to build more public parks

HCM City plans to build more public parks with a total coverage of 650ha in the next 10 years, offering at least one square metre of public parks per resident.