New Paraiso ng Batang Maynila rising

Many baby boomers' best childhood memories may involve happy times at parks, and the same holds true for those residents of the City of Manila who only have good things to say for the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila.

The way it used to be.

Victoria, a daughter of a now long-retired policeman who headed the Manila Zoo police office, the one with the painting of a ready-to-strike cobra on its door, said it was at Paraiso that her father dropped her and her siblings so they can while away the time as he worked.

"He'd come during meal time, and time really flew then as we took all the rides at the playground. We knew, however, that we were under the watchful eyes of the park caretakers ordered to look after us," she said.

She and her younger brothers would switch between the zoo, now fully renovated an opening fully on 15 November, and the Paraiso, she said.

This week, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna announced her administration is restoring the 2,047-square meter Paraiso ng Batang Maynila with the financial support of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The MMDA has an "Adopt-a -Park" project under which the agency funds the renovation of parks identified by local government units.

Lacuna said Paraiso would be transformed into a mega-leisure park, as an open, green space for the public to enjoy, both the young and the young at heart.

Actually, the renovation of the Paraiso is already under Phase 3, according to Lacuna who led the recent groundbreaking for the project along with Vice Mayor Yul Servo, city engineer Armand Andres, city architect Pepito Balmoris and city electrician Randy Sadac.

Also on hand was Parks and Recreation Bureau director Pio Morabe and several barangay chiefs led by Engr. Mark Delfin and Jaime Adriano.

Among the features of the new Paraiso would be the usual playground areas, jogging paths, a basketball court, garden and gazebos.

In her speech, Lacuna thanked MMDA chairperson Carlo Dimayuga III whose office covered the expenses for the redevelopment of the said area. She assured him that the city government will make every penny count.

Andres said the park will have a 200-meter jogging path, 15 lamp posts, 28 bollards, 10 benches, and 67 spotlights. A fountain that is lighted in the evening has also been built in the area fronting the park.

A doctor, Lacuna said she considers the physical and mental health of her constituents among her top priorities. She said the new Paraiso ng Batang Maynila would serve as the center of community activities in the highly-populated Leveriza area.