Malleswaram Residents and GBA Team Up to Revive East West Park

East West Park in Malleswaram has reopened to the public following a joint restoration effort by neighbourhood residents and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) over the Independence Day weekend.

The small neighbourhood park, situated near Valmiki Park, had remained locked and disused for a considerable period. Over time, the surrounding area had turned into a black spot for garbage dumping and waste segregation, leading to continuous complaints from residents regarding foul smells, poor cleanliness, and the loss of accessible open space.

As part of the GBA's "Freedom from Waste" campaign, more than 40 local residents, alongside children and civic teams, took part in the revival initiative. The group worked together to clean the premises, repaint the park's walls and benches, and restore the overall area to make it functional again.

Civic activist Preeti Sunderajan, who led the citizen participation, noted that the initiative helped address long-standing sanitation issues while encouraging active community engagement. She explained that several residents and children who initially came to observe the work ended up joining the cleanup drive. Sunderajan stated that when residents and city authorities collaborate, it fosters agency, collective ownership, and neighbourhood pride.

Achintya, a young resident who took part in the drive, said he initially visited to see what was happening before helping paint one of the park benches. He shared that participating in the activity with others was enjoyable and expressed hope that the community would be able to use the restored park more regularly now that its gates are open.