Last updated: March 2023
Jamburi Park (also spelled as Jamboree park) is an urban park located in the Agrabad area (downtown commercial and financial area) of Chittagong. The area of the park has been for a long time an abandoned land used by locals to grow vegetables, illegally erect constructed makeshift shops, or to engage in illegal activities. (1, 3) In 2015, the Public Works Department (PWD), a unit under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, a pioneer in the construction arena of Bangladesh, decided to take back the land and transform it into a park with the purpose of capitalizing open spaces as well as creating a functional green area (1). Since there aren't many open places in Chittagong, PWD wanted to give the residents a place to get some fresh air (1). Standing at 8.55 acres, the park was designed with trees belonging to 65 species as well as a 50,000 square-foot pool-like water feature (a lake) in the middle, 8,000 meters of walkways, two public restrooms, and two maintenance and electrical blocks. The lake's shore is bordered by a pathway that is ideal for walking and fitness. The green elements are displayed on both shores of the lake and they consist of various fruit, forest, and flower trees as well as grass. (3, 5, 6)
Jamboree playground turns park
Source: (Ref 1)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
The main purpose of erecting the park was to provide a proper place for exercise and relaxation or spending time in the natural environment in a densely populated area of Agrabad. Besides these, there were other objectives such as:
1. To establish a green space by planting trees such as fruit trees, and flower trees to provide urban residents with fresh air.
2. To encourage walking in order to improve the well-being of health.
3. To encourage a healthy and clean environment with available waste management systems.
4. To provide water management and flood regulation services. (1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Implementation activities
The intervention was started in 2015. In the middle of 2016, the Public Works Department started the work of developing the Agrabad Jamboree ground as a park and it built a huge amoeba-shaped lake with a depth of 3.5 feet with beautiful fruit and forest trees planted along its side. A huge fountain has been placed in the middle of the park by the lake. Seating areas are placed along the walkways. Various fruit, forest and flower trees have been planted on both banks of the lake. These trees include Shiuli, Nageshwar, Sonalu, Togar, Krishnachura, Shimul, Radhachura, Kanthalchampa, Bakul, Mau Sandhya, Nayantara, Jarul and other flowering trees. An internal master drain for drainage was established. The entire park is raised three feet above the road. Several bins have also been placed across the park to keep it clean as well as 14 CCTV cameras for security reasons. (1, 3, 4, 6,7)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Other
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was led by the Public Works Division (PWD), a unit under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works of Bangladesh. Funding was governmental alluding to the Housing and Public Works Ministry. Work was implemented by the firm HB & Nahian Enterprises. (1,4,5,6)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Amir H. S. (2018) Jamboree playground turns park. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
2. Dhaka tribune. (n.d.) In pictures: Chittagong Jamboree playground is now a lit park. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
3. Kaler Kantho. (2018).নজরকাড়া জাম্বুরি পার্ক. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
4. Daily Nayadiganta (2018). উদ্বোধনের অপোয় চট্টগ্রামের জাম্বুরি পার্ক. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
5. Paathok (2018) নতুন বিনোদন কেন্দ্র জাম্বুরি পার্কে’র আনুষ্ঠানিক উদ্বোধন. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
6. Amader Orthoneeti (2018). উন্নত বিশ্বের আদলে চট্টগ্রামের জাম্বুরি পার্ক. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
7. Jafrin, M. Developing a Data-Driven Strategy and Guideline to Increase Per Capita Open Space and Relative Accessibility in Chittagong City. Sustainability 2022, 14, 9828. URL: Source link (Accessed March 04, 2023)
2. Dhaka tribune. (n.d.) In pictures: Chittagong Jamboree playground is now a lit park. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
3. Kaler Kantho. (2018).নজরকাড়া জাম্বুরি পার্ক. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
4. Daily Nayadiganta (2018). উদ্বোধনের অপোয় চট্টগ্রামের জাম্বুরি পার্ক. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
5. Paathok (2018) নতুন বিনোদন কেন্দ্র জাম্বুরি পার্কে’র আনুষ্ঠানিক উদ্বোধন. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
6. Amader Orthoneeti (2018). উন্নত বিশ্বের আদলে চট্টগ্রামের জাম্বুরি পার্ক. URL: Source link (Accessed on 09 February, 2023).
7. Jafrin, M. Developing a Data-Driven Strategy and Guideline to Increase Per Capita Open Space and Relative Accessibility in Chittagong City. Sustainability 2022, 14, 9828. URL: Source link (Accessed March 04, 2023)
Jamboree playground turns park
Source: (Ref 6)
Jamboree Park
https://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/567562/Jamboree-Park-located-in-Agrabad-area-of-Chattogram-city-looks-desolate-on-Friday-amid-the-nationwide-strict-lockdown.-Parks-and-recreational-facilities-in-the-country-remained-closed-for-long-due-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic.-
Jamboree Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamboree_Park
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.