The multi-functional park project is located in Thanh Xuan and Thoi An wards, District 12. This is one of the parks that the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board has established and submitted for approval in the period of 2024 - 2030 according to Decision 117 on the plan for developing green parks in the city. The park project is expected to have a total investment of about 7,500 billion VND.
Currently, the total planned land area is 150 hectares. With this area, this will be the second largest park in the city (after Saigon Safari Park of 485 hectares), 9 times larger than the area of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens (17 hectares). This area is planned as a multifunctional park that serves the needs of viewing, living, exploiting types of entertainment, recreation (non-residential), and combining the functions of water regulation and clean water storage for the entire area.
In fact, this project had a planning scheme since 1999 with an initial total area of 250 hectares to serve the people, but by 2012, the scale was adjusted down to 150 hectares.
According to Lao Dong, because the project has been "suspended" for 25 years, the planned park area is still a wasteland. Many people who own land in the "suspended park" project have used it to grow Tet flowers, vegetables, etc.
Ms. Tran Thi Oanh and many people living near this area really hope the project will be completed and put into use soon.
"I heard the project was implemented many years ago, when my child was 10 years old. Now my child is married and has children, but the park is still not built," Ms. Oanh shared.
In fact, in Ho Chi Minh City, not only the multifunctional park in District 12 but also a number of other parks have not been implemented yet such as Saigon Safari Park (Cu Chi district), Thu Thiem Park (Thu Duc city)...
Speaking with Lao Dong, Dr. Pham Viet Thuan - Director of the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Economics of Ho Chi Minh City said that the main reason why these large park projects have been sluggish for many years is the lack of policies to attract investment.
"Green space projects are essential for the city's development, however, many other factors are needed to complete the project," Mr. Pham Viet Thuan informed.
According to statistics, the public green space in Ho Chi Minh City is only over 500 hectares, equivalent to about 0.55 m2/person, this index is much lower than the urban green space standard of 15 m2/person.
Therefore, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction aims to develop an additional 600 hectares of public park land by 2030. Of which, 150 hectares of public park land will be developed in 2020-2025, and 450 hectares in 2026-2030.
According to the Department of Construction, the most difficult problem at present is that it is not possible to invite private investment in developing green parks, because it does not belong to the field of investment under public-private partnership (PPP) and socialization. In addition, the guidance on using park land also has many shortcomings and obstacles.
In the coming time, the Department of Construction will propose to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to prioritize investment in 6 large-scale park projects with public land origin, including the multi-functional park in District 12.
Some images recorded at the multifunctional park project in District 12:
