The mayor along with the representatives, other public official’s and our team went on a joint field visit hosted by the Lalitpur Metropolitan City. Seeing our new approaches and commitment to the ongoing creation of the green spaces in Jawalakhel, the mayor invited us to further collaborate for the revival of neglected public lands within Lalitpur city. Seven different sites were visited in a half-day trip. The visiting team interacted with some locals who are knowledgeable about the place and discussed key issues prevailing in the locality.
The mayor made an announcement of the idea and requested all to work towards the successful implementation of these projects. I suggested everyone – see the city as a socio-ecological entity. Urban parks are not only for aesthetics and recreational purpose, but it’s a part of a fragile ecosystem that must be preserved. Our work is not about adding infra-structures but seeking simplicity in the design that supports urban ecology. I emphasized No design as the best design.
I also requested the mayor to provide some institutional support to expand our team members that in turn generates knowledge, skills, and solutions to current challenges. The success of the projects also depends on striking a good balance between internal motivation and external conditions. Well, beyond acquiring information, this site visit offered a bundle of benefits like peer-to-peer exchanges and dialogues in a less formal setting – a good chance to get acquainted with the right people and bridge the gap for future networking.
At present we are building a team to revive multiple open spaces and build momentum.
Photos :
Sanoj Byanjankar
