Sam Kiplagat
27 April 2008
Nairobi — One of Nairobi's oldest recreational parks is under threat from private developers.
On Saturday, the Sunday Nation team toured City Park, in Parklands area, and discovered that parts of it had been cleared for construction by the developer.
Other recreational parks in the city are Uhuru Park, Jeevanjee Gardens,, Uhuru Gardens, Arboretum and Kamukunji Grounds in the suburbs.
At City Park, the controversial construction work had started with trenches already dug. About a quarter of an acre had been cleared of trees to make room for the project. A guard at the cite said the work was expected to resume on Monday.
The "grabbed" place is behind the old cemetery at the park and a few metres from where Kenya's second Vice President Joseph Murumbi and his wife Sheila have been buried.
A lobby group, Friends of City Park, had earlier complained that a developer was destroying what Nairobi's people have enjoyed over the years. The group was formed to bring together the people keen on preserving the Park as a recreational ground. They have been working with the City Council to protect and upgrade the Park's amenities.
City Park features grassy lawns criss-crossed with paths, benches and swings, making it an ideal place for picnics. On weekdays one can buy or rent plants grown by staff, or visit the Boscawen Collection of rare plants.
A small tea kiosk and open-air restaurant provide food and beverages. People from all walks of life fill the Park on weekends and school holidays.
The Sykes' monkeys are the most prominent of the Park's wildlife. These monkeys are dark grey in colour with a thick collar of white fur, and have a long tail. They feed on wild fruits and leaves in the forest but also grab fruits and nuts from unwary visitors.
Developers had in the past also attempted to grab parts of Uhuru Park and Jevanjee Gardens, but were blocked following protests by the public and groups led by Nobel Laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai. The Government has spent millions of shillings fencing the parks to keep of developers.
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