Like many rapidly urbanizing cities in the world, Bangkok residents in Thailand face a situation where the city has too many high-rise buildings but little natural green space.
Photo: Time Out Bangkok
This vast 72-hectare Benjakitti Park is a green highlight in Bangkok. Although the park will not officially open until August, it currently welcomes up to 12,000 people on weekends to jog, cycle, sightsee and take photos.
"The park is designed with quite special tree species, an ideal place for bird watching," said bird watcher Somsak Jaitrong.
Photo: Time Out Bangkok
"I love the fresh air and I really enjoy coming to this park. Bangkok doesn't have many parks as big as this one," said music teacher Luckachai Krichnoi.
Benjakitti Park used to be the site of Thai tobacco factories. However, in recent years, the area has been renovated and planned to become the green center of the capital.
The noise of the factory was gone, replaced by the chirping of birds and the croaking of frogs. Even the hum of city traffic was barely audible.
Photo: Time Out Bangkok
“We wanted to create a space where Bangkokians can come on weekends and feel proud to come here,” said Catchanin Sung, an urban landscape architect.
In addition to the rich vegetation, the creeks and mounds within the park also play an important role in creating a wetland ecosystem that is friendly to wildlife and also acts as a treatment system, filtering wastewater from neighboring areas.
Photo: Time Out Bangkok
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, city residents currently enjoy only 7 m2green space/person. Bangkok's goal is to increase that area to 10 m2/person by 2030 through the green park construction program.
Photo: Time Out Bangkok
