City Environment and Parks Management Office officer-in-charge Atty. Rhenan Diwas has presented a P717 million proposed Wright Park development plan that includes a P397M parking building.
He gave the presentation in Tuesday’s regular management committee meeting presided by Mayor Benjamin Magalong at the newly-rehabilitated Baguio Convention Center.
Diwas explained that it is conceptualized as a traditional nature park infused with the adventure of horse-back riding that has made the area popular to residents and visitors for all these years.
The mayor requested for the development plan’s immediate formulation as he lamented the pitiful and dilapidated situation of Wright Park, one of the city’s premier tourist destinations and home base of its largest pony boys association.
Other than the four-story parking facility, the “green architecture” conceptual framework also includes elevated walkways; decks and rest nooks; walkable areas and historic restorations; and more.
Diwas, admitted, however, that the plan is quite “ambitious” since it was conceptualized before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and can be adjusted if need be.
He suggested construction of the four-story parking building in the area as a priority project since it will be generating revenue to fund the park’s development.
The facility can also serve the parking needs of not only Wright Park but also Botanical Garden and Mines View Park and become a centralized transportation hub, he claimed.
Diwas said that the rest of the amenities can follow in phases when funding allows and times are more favorable, Diwas added.
The mayor pointed out that while most of the city’s funds are geared towards fighting the virus, he is upbeat that outside sources of funding will be secured to complete the projects. – Gaby Keith
April 27, 2024
