Revitalizing Bengaluru's Neighbourhood Parks
We look past the standard BBMP layout, using local ecology and community input to turn forgotten green patches into vibrant, accessible public commons.
A walk through our "1/1000" park project, showing the space in use. This project is our first step in a larger initiative to revitalize the thousand-plus neighborhood parks that make up most of Bengaluru's green cover.
An illustrative sketch capturing the spirit of our park revitalization concept. It shows a space filled with activity, from play and leisure to community gatherings, all connected by flowing pathways that weave through existing nature.
A feature on our park project in the LA Journal, outlining our core idea. We questioned why Bengaluru is called a 'Garden City' when it could be a 'Park City', with its network of small, local parks acting as the true heart of its public green space.
A diagram of the ten key design strategies we developed for upgrading BBMP parks. This shows our systematic approach, from opening up corners for better access to creating diverse edge conditions and modular layouts for wider application.
About Revitalizing Bengaluru's Parks
We do not believe in standard-issue fencing or closed-off layouts. Instead, we open up the corners of these parks to improve street-level visibility and accessibility, creating Maidan-style plazas that invite residents in rather than keeping them out.
Our work on park revitalization stems from a simple question: what makes a space feel like it truly belongs to the neighbourhood? After researching Bengaluru's network of over a thousand BBMP parks, we realized the problem was not a lack of space, but a lack of connection.
The Park City Methodology
When we take on a project, we do not start with excavators. We start by observing.
- Ecological Mapping: We survey existing mature trees and soil conditions to ensure every intervention supports rather than disrupts the local ecosystem.
- Community Zoning: We hold stakeholder workshops to understand what residents actually need. Does the area need a quiet corner for seniors, or a high-energy zone for children? We map this out to prevent conflict and maximize usage.
- Permeable Design: Moving away from concrete-heavy layouts, we use stabilized mud blocks and porous paving to ensure that rainwater recharges the earth.
We view these neighbourhood parks as the city's lungs. By integrating native, drought-tolerant species like aromatic shrubs and ornamental grasses, we reduce water dependency while creating sensory landscapes that change with the seasons. Our goal is to shift the narrative from ornamental gardening to functional, ecological placemaking—turning every small patch into a space where the community can gather, play, and reflect.
Reading Grounds
We are Reading Grounds, a collective of designers and storytellers based in Jayanagar. We believe nature leads every project, so we spend our time reading the land, its history, and its people before we ever draw a line.
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