Businesses and households have illegally encroached Tuoi Tre (Youth) Park in Hanoi which has been abandoned for years.

Abandoned water park in Hanoi

The large water park inside Tuoi Tre (Youth) Park in Hai Ba Trung District, covers 26.43 hectares. The project was approved in 2000 as a public space for the people living nearby. However, it has been abandoned for years despite supposedly being a key Hanoi entertainment project.

From 2010 to 2012, a number of businesses such as tennis courts, restaurants, supermarket and offices have illegally taken over the park. About 17 households have also encroached the park.

Other equipment in the park has become rusty. The 30-metre water slide is covered in dust and moss with rusty steel beams. All the stairs that lead to the pools or water slides now also become rusty or are damaged beyond repair. According to the locals, they have never been put into use.

Thanh Nhan Ward People's Committee said the water park was shut down in 2014 and investors lacked funds to maintain the equipment.

Hanoi authorities decided to transfer Tuoi Tre Park, under the management of Hanoi Youth Investment and Services Company, to Hanoi Green Park JSC.

In 2015, Hanoi People's Committee chairman asked the Department of Construction to deal with the violations by August 2015. Even though the problems were brought up several times, most of the illegal constructions haven't been removed.

Trieu Nhu Long, vice chairman of Thanh Nhan Ward People's Committee said that they had removed some services such as the mini football and tennis courts. In order to demolish bigger buildings, they need more funding but they can't decide whether Hanoi Youth Investment and Services Company or Hanoi Green Park JSC must take responsibility.

dtinews