From garbage dump to green lung: Residents give Aane Park in Malleswaram a new lease of life
After nearly two decades of disuse, residents of Malleswaram have come together to revive a park popularly known as Aane Park. Residents plan to inaugurate the revamped park on November 1.
Published - October 29, 2026 06:01 am IST - Bengaluru
A view of Aane Park in Malleswaram in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
After nearly two decades of disuse, residents of Malleswaram have come together to revive a park popularly known as Aane Park. Residents plan to inaugurate the revamped park on November 1.
For the past three weeks, resident volunteers, in association with several NGOs and groups, have been working to clean the park, where heaps of garbage had been dumped for nearly 20 years. During this period, around 40 tractor-loads of garbage were cleared from the premises of the closed park. A slide built to resemble an elephant, which gave the park its moniker Aane Park and was its main attraction, is being rebuilt. Broken benches have also been replaced.
Currently, the park has more than 30 varieties of trees, four rainwater-harvesting units, benches, a walking path under development and a children’s play area being developed by residents along with the social organisation People for People. They have also installed dustbins and two dry-leaf composters. Students from Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology are painting murals on the park walls.
Preeti Sunderajan, who initiated the revival of the park, said she came across it while in the neighbourhood and found it completely dilapidated. “The residents told me it had not been in use for almost 20 years, and it looked like a beautiful but forgotten part of Malleswaram. I approached the GBA and we are working to bring it back to life,” she said.
Ravi, a resident of Sampige Road, said the park has existed for more than half a century and has not been used for at least two decades. “We used to play here when we were kids. But it later fell into disuse and we don’t know why. If the park is maintained well, residents can use it for walking and recreational activities,” he said.
Going forward, a committee comprising residents and GBA officials will be formed to monitor and maintain the park premises, said another volunteer, Karthik K. Residents want to keep the park open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and employ a gardener.
MLA supporters put up banner, removed
A controversy erupted when some supporters of local BJP MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan put up a banner at Aane Park on October 25, stating that the park was open for public use. A video of the banner went viral on social media, and it was removed the same day. “I don’t want to politicise the issue. But this was a residents’ initiative, entirely crowd-funded, and we did not seek support from any political representatives,” said Ms. Sunderajan.
Published - October 29, 2026 06:01 am IST
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