VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City People's Committee is planning to build 10 playgrounds next year to cater for its 1.7 million children, the Committee's Office said yesterday, Nov 18.

The committee would ask for People's Council's approval in its next session before developing details of the project, an office spokesperson said.

The playgrounds would be located at inner Districts 1, 6 and 10 and fringe districts of Go Vap, Can Gio, Binh Chanh and Nha Be, including one based in a shelter or open house.

Phu Lam Park (District 6), Le Thi Rieng Park (District 10), Le Van Tam and Tao Dan parks (District 1) and Go Vap District's Gia Dinh Park would allocate zones for children's playgrounds.

The playgrounds would be modelled on District 4's Khanh Hoi Children's Entertainment Area.

The area, which features stages, sandpits, indoor and outdoor equipment like slides, swings and see-saws on an area of 13,000sq m, was one of the most successful parks of its kind in the city, District 4 Public Services Company deputy director Phan Van Lan said.

Ever since its inauguration last November, the park's free facilities had attracted hundreds of kids per day from inside and outside of the district.

In particular, Gia Dinh Park, which extended over a large area, would feature health-promoting games for kids on a 1-ha area, while land at Tao Dan Park, currently rented to a restaurant, would revert to build a playground.

In a recent People's Council workshop, deputies discussed options to overcome the shortage of entertainment space for the city's 1.7 million children.

The workshop heard that all facilities at children's cultural houses were outdated and degraded, failing to meet children's needs.

Deputies recommended that private investment would be mobilised to develop children's entertainment areas in inner districts, while playgrounds in suburban districts would be built from the public budget.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News