What to expect once Lions Garden is rehabilitated
Lions garden undergoing rehabilitation on June 26, 2024.
The closure of Lions Garden within the city centre late last year meant a new light for business men and women resting and conducting business on the public space.
Most hoped the face lift would be concluded in no time and they would be able to access the park.
Mostly those in transit using the bus park in town would frequent this park whereas traditional photographers and those in the pedicure business saw this as their daily office.
Construction works go on inside Lions garden on June 26, 2024.
Mtaa Wangu caught up with the Environment and Climate Change Chief officer, Ken Mungai, to get insights on possibly when the park will be reopened to the public and what could be captured in the park's face lift.
Mr Mungai notes that the department took over the rehabilitation of the park in November 2023, with climate change mitigation and enhancing the aesthetics of the park in mind.
“The project is done in partnership with financing locally led climate action program (flloca) where Sh10 million is being pumped into rehabilitating the 1.19-acre park. Additionally, the county moved in to rehabilitate the park since it was in a dilapidated condition yet it was in the city centre,” he says.
Nakuru Environment Chief Officer Ken Mungai.
Other than an authentic look to the park, Mr Mungai notes that the rehabilitation will result in the introduction of new tree varieties that will help with Carbon sequestration (process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide) since we have a busy bus park in town.
“In three months’ time, the park will be reopened to the public. In this period the contractors on site will have paved works, flowers, grass, benches, solar lighting, fence and gates worked on,” he notes.
Other than this, the Chief Officer says the county will contract security agencies to guard the park to ensure security is enhanced to ensure anyone using the space enjoys the experience.
Further, he notes the county administration might look into allowing commercial use of the park as time goes by.
Asked if the park will be closed at any point to allow for its maintenance, he notes that they will choose a maintenance day.
“Contrary to a whole day maintenance done at Nyayo garden, we might resort to have a half day maintenance for Lions Garden, since it's not as large as Nyayo Garden,” he concludes.