Park view
Vancouver, Sydney and New York get it right. Even Singapore can pull it off – so why can’t we make the most of our harbour-front parks? Andre Cooray finds out
Concern group Designing Hong Kong recently commissioned a survey that showed major design flaws in Hong Kong’s harbour-front parks – and reported growing dissatisfaction from the community. It found that fenced off promenades, a lack of shaded seating, and no toilet or food and drink facilities were the three major bones of contention. Poor access and signage were also cited as issues that need to be addressed.
Paul Zimmerman, founding member of Designing Hong Kong, says that now is a good time to lobby for changes because the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will soon be made responsible for the design and up-keep of new waterfront promenades across Hong Kong, notably in Hung Hom, Kai Tak, Kennedy Town, Central and North Point. It is therefore important to ensure that the LCSD is sensitive to the evolving needs of the community.
What we don’t want to see are seats placed directly in front of a concrete wall (that obstructs the sea view) as they are at Lei Yue Mun Typhoon Shelter, or seating areas facing away from the sea as they do on the Kwun Tong waterfront at Hoi Bun Road.
The LCSD has already started implementing minor changes such as fence removal that fit into its existing budget, says Zimmerman. However, he feels the government needs to consider further the feasibility of more elaborate upgrades, such as the proposal to build harbour-facing, al fresco restaurants under the canopy of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Pointing out that there was little focus on the harbour front previously because it was a moving entity, subject to reclamation, Zimmerman is optimistic that we will see improvements soon.
Maggie Brooke, CEO of Professional Property Services Ltd, contends that the approach to the management of public open space currently adopted by the government needs to be re-thought out. She points out that the LCSD, despite being responsible for the management of waterfront parks, has restricted influence under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance and is not there to provide facilities. She also says the LCSD prefers to keep access low in order to streamline the management and maintenance required, as well as to minimise risks to public safety for which it could be held accountable.
“There is little green space on the waterfront that people are allowed to use – very few facilities or amenities. Most seem to be designed to be as management free as possible, not so as to provide a pleasant experience, whether active or passive,” says Brooke. “There is a need for more ‘soft’ areas (grass and planting as against concrete walkways), and access to the water itself. Not all the spaces need to be vast – some of the linkages could be quite narrow but each node needs to be a ‘place’ worth visiting in its own right. All the ingredients are already there, it’s just that they’re not included in any of the government’s plans to date.”
Brooke believes that proposals for improvement often come to a halt because the LCSD either does not have the resources or is not willing to accept responsibility for the future management. On the positive side, she reveals that the Development Bureau has set up a small team to deal exclusively with waterfront issues, and that it is in the process of liaising with other departments to make improvements.
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