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This is an archive article published on October 21, 2022

Mumbai: Exclusive open space for specially abled persons to be inaugurated at Jogger’s Park today

The fund for this project has been raised through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and is being backed by I Love Mumbai Foundation.

mumbai parkA playboard panel at the park.

Come Saturday and people in Mumbai will get a dedicated open space for the specially abled as a 9,000-square feet plot inside the iconic Jogger’s Park Garden in Bandra (west), which has been transformed into a disabled-friendly park, will be thrown open to public.

Civic officials said that a portion of the Jogger’s Park, an oval-shaped sea-front park located on Carter’s Road, has been converted into an open space for the specially abled. Separate entry and exit points have been set up to make the space exclusive to people with special needs. The park will have wheelchair swings, soft mat flooring and hanging board games to facilitate the specially abled.

wheelchair mgr A wheelchair merry-go-round at the park.

Jogger’s Park, now renamed as Sir Oliver Andrade Park, falls under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The fund for this project has been raised through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and is being backed by I Love Mumbai Foundation. Rahul Kanal, president of this foundation, said that this will be Mumbai’s first open space that is being created exclusively for the disabled friendly population.

The park will be inaugurated by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.

“There will be 32 rides such as swings, slopes and hand balls in the park that has been designed in a specific manner to make it feasible for the specially abled. Each ride and gym apparatus has been customised and the swings and slopes designed in a way that it fits the dimensions of wheel chairs easily,” said Kanal. He pointed out that the entire funding for the project has been raised through CSR, adding not a single penny from the BMC’s kitty has been used for the project despite the premises being a civic plot.

The cost of the project is pegged at Rs 30 lakh, out of which Rs 9 lakh has been spent on flooring.
Civic officials said that initially, the premises was a plot with mud and soil surface. This was later concretised following which piling works were done for installation of various apparatuses. Once the apparatuses were installed, flooring was carried out by using mat and rubber.

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“We have opted for rubber padded flooring as a precautionary measure so that nobody gets hurt by falling down. There are one or two parks in Mumbai which have a few disabled-friendly apparatus but this is the first park in Mumbai that has been exclusively designed for special needs kids,” Kanal said.

Further elaborating on the features at the park, Kanal said, “Wheelchair-bound children will get to take a merry-go-round ride and use the swing along with their wheelchair. There is latching gear on rides to ensure safety. Typical board games have been designed in a customised way so that they are hanging and these children are able to play those games with each other.”

arc ball Arc ball facility at the park.

Former local corporator Asif Zakaria said, “It is a welcome move to see that parks in Mumbai are being made more inclusive by addressing needs of children with special needs. BMC should try and replicate it in all parks.”

Civic officials said that the walls of the premises have been designed with granite and ramps have been constructed at the entry and exit points for convenience of the visitors.

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Notably, earlier in May this year, a proposal for creating a play park for special needs children was floated by the BMC. The park was supposed to come up in Juhu. However, following complaints from local residents, the project was stalled by local K/West ward of the BMC.

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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