Summer fun for free

ENJOY IT while it lasts. The Children's Park, Guindy has something for children who are not too enthused by its heat-weary animal residents.

They can now cling on to a ropeway and jump into a fibreglass slide and land straight into a pool of balls, just like an amusement park.

You are not in an amusement park or a theme park, located outside the city limits. All this happens inside Children's Park, Guindy.

The Forest department has put up new play equipment for children and Friday was the good day to open the gates to the kids. Installed at a cost of Rs. 3.4 lakhs, the play equipment includes rope climbing, rope walking and jumping, sliding chute, ball pit with 10,000 balls and three foam stuffed sand bags for the children to practice boxing.

All put inside an enclosed area, the officials have restricted the entry to children alone according to their height, says Mr. A.K. Ulaganathan, Wildlife Warden, Chennai.

Children who don't cross 4 ft in height are allowed to play the ball pit, while in other play areas, the maximum height is fixed at 4.9 ft by the officials. To avoid disappointing the children, ``We have kept the measurements near the entry point and allow the children allowed according to their height,'' he says.

While the existing play equipment such as swings, see saw, and merry go round are mainly used by the adults, this is specifically meant for children.

On the inaugural day itself more than 500 children were in for a pleasant surprise, as they were greeted by the play equipment and the officials expect more children to enjoy the new facility. While for a similar facility in a private theme park, one has to shell out some money, here the children are allowed free entry, officials add.

A separate rack for keeping the shoes has been provided and those who have already gone are only visiting the place again and again, says Mr. Thomas De Rose, Range Office, Children's Park.

By P. Oppili

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Woman killed in accident
Next     : Cheap chillers to beat the heat