Parel football ground misses upkeep goal
Unattended garbage, unkempt gym equipment, inadequate facilities plague most popular soccer venue in city.
The Parel ground is the most popular public venue for the city’s budding footballers and matches are played there almost throughout the year.
The ground, one of largest such spaces with the BMC, hosts soccer games for the Mumbai School Sports Association and for schools across the city.
MDFA ), headed by by Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray, looks after the place and it does not allow any commercial activity there.
Despite the ground’s special significance in the city’s sporting culture, it is not maintained properly, with students complaining about unattended garbage, unkempt gym equipment, and inadequate facilities.
Here is what Mirror’s audit revealed:
Signage
According to the BMC’s policy for management of open spaces, the private caretaker should put up two signboards stating that the property belongs to the city. But there is only one weather-beaten board at the entrance of St Xaviers ground and the writing on it is barely legible.
Access
The ground is open to all and security guards are rarely seen there. While the BMC has allowed private caretakers to charge an entrance fee of up to Rs 5, MDFA has kept the entry free on all days.
Installations
There is some gym equipment, but it is not maintained well. The office at the entrance is also in a shambles. But the new stadium is up to the mark and there are new toilets and shower rooms for players. High-mast lighting also been installed for night matches.
But the most complaints from students are the lack of grass and the uneven surface. Uncleared garbage in various parts of the ground and waterlogging are other major annoyances. Many people urinate on the periphery of the plot, stinking up the place. A roadside shrine in the area was demolished recently and its debris has been dumped at the ground.
“This is the only convenient and available space where we can play football and we love coming here. But it needs to be spruced up. The BMC and MDFA should not let the place to rot like this,” a school-going student said.
Revamp on cards, say MDFA
MDFA secretary Udayan Banerjee the organisation was working with the BMC to improve the cleanliness and overall condition of the ground. “The debris will also be cleared soon,” he said.
Banerjee said players were very happy with the new toilets, showers and changing rooms. “Reliance Youth Foundation set up the facilities and it has offered more help,” he said. “The ground has sunk by around six inches because of monsoon-related erosion and we need to deposit more soil to improve the level.”
MDFA said it only allowed sporting activities on the venue. “We give out space to sports club and schools for athletic meets, but there is no commercial use. After 6 pm, children are allowed to play whatever they want,” Banerjee said.
You can do your own open space audit. For help, contact Mumbai Mirror’s Chaitanya Marpakwar at chaitanya.marpakwar@timesgroup.com
The Parel ground is the most popular public venue for the city’s budding footballers and matches are played there almost throughout the year.
The ground, one of largest such spaces with the BMC, hosts soccer games for the Mumbai School Sports Association and for schools across the city.
The Mumbai District Football Association (
Despite the ground’s special significance in the city’s sporting culture, it is not maintained properly, with students complaining about unattended garbage, unkempt gym equipment, and inadequate facilities.
Here is what Mirror’s audit revealed:
Signage
According to the BMC’s policy for management of open spaces, the private caretaker should put up two signboards stating that the property belongs to the city. But there is only one weather-beaten board at the entrance of St Xaviers ground and the writing on it is barely legible.
Access
The ground is open to all and security guards are rarely seen there. While the BMC has allowed private caretakers to charge an entrance fee of up to Rs 5, MDFA has kept the entry free on all days.
Installations
There is some gym equipment, but it is not maintained well. The office at the entrance is also in a shambles. But the new stadium is up to the mark and there are new toilets and shower rooms for players. High-mast lighting also been installed for night matches.
But the most complaints from students are the lack of grass and the uneven surface. Uncleared garbage in various parts of the ground and waterlogging are other major annoyances. Many people urinate on the periphery of the plot, stinking up the place. A roadside shrine in the area was demolished recently and its debris has been dumped at the ground.
“This is the only convenient and available space where we can play football and we love coming here. But it needs to be spruced up. The BMC and MDFA should not let the place to rot like this,” a school-going student said.
Revamp on cards, say MDFA
MDFA secretary Udayan Banerjee the organisation was working with the BMC to improve the cleanliness and overall condition of the ground. “The debris will also be cleared soon,” he said.
Banerjee said players were very happy with the new toilets, showers and changing rooms. “Reliance Youth Foundation set up the facilities and it has offered more help,” he said. “The ground has sunk by around six inches because of monsoon-related erosion and we need to deposit more soil to improve the level.”
MDFA said it only allowed sporting activities on the venue. “We give out space to sports club and schools for athletic meets, but there is no commercial use. After 6 pm, children are allowed to play whatever they want,” Banerjee said.
You can do your own open space audit. For help, contact Mumbai Mirror’s Chaitanya Marpakwar at chaitanya.marpakwar@timesgroup.com
