New Park in Bangkok Provides Much Needed Green Space

New Park in Bangkok Provides Much Needed Green Space

People in Thailand's capital Bangkok are enjoying a new park full of trees, water, plants and birds. Every day, crowds visit Benjakitti Forest Park to get a taste of nature in the heart of the city.

The new park is part of an effort to create a greener, more livable Bangkok by 2030.

Another park next to the site was built in the 1990s, with a large man-made lake. But the new 41-hectare extension¹ has captured² the capital's imagination. On weekends, up to 12,000 people a day use its nature trail, walkways and bike paths.

The park used to be home to factories operated by the country's state-run tobacco industry. Changes on the new park began several years ago. Visitors are now enjoying the park ahead of its official opening, planned for August.

"I love it," said 44-year-old music teacher Luckachai Krichnoi. "I love the outdoors and fresh air. Bangkok does not have that many big parks. I am glad we have this beautiful space."

The design mixes the old with the new. Designers kept more than 1,700 of the site's original trees, then planted almost 7,000 new ones. As they age, the trees' leaves will grow and spread, deepening³ the park's cover.

The area is already popular with nature-lovers such as bird-watcher and photographer Somsak Jaitrong, who said he visits almost every day. He says he has seen more than 40 kinds of birds so far, though others have counted many more.

"The way they designed the park is quite special because they put all kinds of trees here," he said. "You know, the birds go where the food is..."

Water plays a central part in the park. Small bodies of water, called ponds, and islands create a wildlife-friendly environment. The park's water system also helps clean wastewater from nearby communities.

One of the park's designers noted⁴ that a major goal was to improve people's relationships with the natural world.

The landscape architect, Chatchanin Sung, said the green area can be more than just a place for running and other kinds of exercise. It can also increase awareness⁵ about the environment and demonstrate⁶ the importance of linking living with nature.

Bangkok is mostly surrounded by concrete and steel. Officials have estimated⁷ the city's population currently⁸ enjoys just 7 square meters of green space per person.

The aim is to increase that to 10 square meters by 2030 through a park-building program and by planting more trees.

But Bangkok's real problem, one expert argues, is not the average amount of available green space. A big concern is also how much green space is spread throughout the city. The new park demonstrates⁹ that point.

"Benjakitti Park (is) located in the area where the green area per capita is much higher than other areas. ... the park is very nice, very beautiful, I love it, but how about other districts?" said Niramon Serisakul. She is the director of Chulalongkorn University's Urban Design and Development Center.

Six kilometers from Benjakitti's beautiful surroundings¹⁰, another green area stretches across Bangkok's Chao Phraya River. At sunset, the area offers large views and a cool breeze¹¹.

The 280-meter-long Chao Phraya Sky Park was created two years ago from a bridge that was built but never used. Niramon says Bangkok needs to create more of these kinds of areas to expand the amount of green space in the city in a more equal way.

Words in This Story

extension – n. something (such as an interest or activity) that develops from something else

original – adj. existing from the beginning, or being the earliest form of something

landscape – n. an area of land that has a particular quality or appearance

architect – n. a person who designs and guides a plan, project, etc.

per capita – adv. by or for each person

breeze – n. a soft wind

1 extension   

n.伸长，扩大，伸展；延长，延期；延长部分，扩大部分；电话分机

参考例句：

• The pupils disliked the extension of the term.小学生们不愿延长学期。
• Our extension is nearly finished.我们的扩建部分已接近完工。

2 captured   

俘获( capture的过去式和过去分词 )； 夺取； 夺得； 引起（注意、想像、兴趣）

参考例句：

• Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. 盟军俘虏了300多名敌方士兵。
• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。

3 deepening   

n. 加深, 深化 动词deepen的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• With the deepening of the economic crisis, unemployment shot up. 经济危机加剧，失业人数激增。
• The sky, deepening to ochre, is broken by two or three seagulls. 两点三点白鸥划破了渐变为赭色的天空。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

6 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

7 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。

8 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

9 demonstrates   

举行示威游行（或集会）( demonstrate的第三人称单数 )； 示范。展示； 显示； 论证

参考例句：

• I hope this message demonstrates my feelings to the students. 我希望这个祝词能表达出我对学生们的感情。
• I hope this demonstrates to you how I feel. 我希望这能向你表明我的感受。

10 surroundings   

n.周围的事物(或情况)，环境

参考例句：

• She is not very well tuned into her surroundings. 她不太适应周围的环境。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

11 breeze   

n.微风；轻而易举的事；vi.来去匆匆，急速走

参考例句：

• A little breeze is blowing in from the window.微风从窗户里吹进来。
• The clouds are pale and a light breeze is blowing.云淡风轻。