Trupti Thandaveswaran

LA4001

          Pune city is blessed with many recreational hotspots like parks, hills, biodiversity trails, etc. However, a lot of these places forbid or are averse to pets. Therefore, this project is a proposal to identify vacant lands that are underused due to specific reasons which become an eye sore and attract unpleasant activities, and to transform it into a pet park.           The proposed site for the pet park is situated on a vacant land along the Bhiroba nalah tributary, which flows into the Mula-Mutha river, in Pune city. The site is an eye-sore as it has evolved into an open dumping ground amidst a neighbourhood consisting of residential complexes, school and commercial buildings. Along the nalah and abutting the site is a crematorium, which has deemed the site inauspicious and lead it to remain vacant for years. The neighbourhood is rich in pet loving populace. The site of 7.3 Acres (2.9 Hectares) is divided in two by a road. Splitting it in a 6 Acres site (2.4 Hectares) and a 1.3 acres (1.5 Hectares) site. This existing division in the site can be used to create two separate pet parks – the 6 acres for dogs and 1 acre for cats. The parks with have running and playing spaces for pets with secure off-leash areas, resting points and water points, walking tracks, lawn mounds, etc. While other spaces will cater to – Amphitheatre for events like pet shows and vaccination drives, nursery, composting areas, etc. The owners will also have recreational activities in the park like jogging track, cafeteria, in house vet, spectating pockets, seating pockets, etc. to sit and enjoy watching their pets play.           The income generated by the events and for lease spaces on site like the vet clinic and cafeteria, and membership of pet owners, will help in maintaining the site. The park will help increase the property value of the neighbourhood, and make it an important space for the pet owners' community.