The Valenzuela City government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) inaugurated four parks at Disiplina Village in Barangay Bignay on Thursday morning, Feb. 3.
The “friendship parks” project was a joint initiative under the MMDA Adopt-A-Park program which aims to reconstruct public areas into functional green parks in collaboration with local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.
The inauguration of the parks was held ahead of the celebration of Valenzuela City’s 24th Cityhood Day on Monday, Feb. 14.
Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian and MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos led the ribbon-cutting ceremony which was also attended by Valenzuela Vice Mayor Lorena “Lorie” Natividad-Borja and officials of Barangay Bignay.
The parks were designed by the city government, and funded and constructed by the MMDA.
The construction of the parks began in August 2021 and was completed by February 2022.
The four parks feature playground sets including swings, slides, obstacle courses, and kiddie tracks for children.
Each park also has amenities such as fitness areas for adults and senior citizens, shaded benches as lounging areas, and covered courts for contact sports and other events.
The parks were built within Disiplina Village in Barangay Bignay, which is one of the city’s public rental housing areas for informal settler families.
The city government said the parks serve as venues to facilitate friendlier and stronger ties among members of the communities and families.
In a press statement, Abalos thanked the Metro Manila LGUs for helping the agency accomplish its efforts for urban re-greening and raising environmental awareness.
In a Facebook post on Feb. 3, Gatchalian said the city government invests in the creation of green and open spaces in order to foster a healthier and more sustainable environment for the city’s residents.
“It is a part of the city’s vision to take back the streets to people to make Valenzuela more livable,” Gatchalian said.
Valenzuela City’s previous urban greening projects include the establishment of the Polo Park on Jan. 21, 2020 and the Valenzuela City Sports Park in Barangay Wawang Pulo on July 12, 2021.
Meanwhile, the Fatima Avenue redevelopment project and the construction of the Arkong Bato Park in Disiplina Village in Barangay Arkong Bato are ongoing, according to the Valenzuela City Public Information Office (PIO). (Khriscielle Yalao)