At Chennai’s newest eco-park, people enjoy all that an accessible third space can offer: walking, jogging, basketball, badminton, meditation, kids playing, exercising, painting, and even photoshoots. The Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Wetland Ecopark is a sponge park that has a 600-metre boardwalk, pollinator garden, basketball court, seating areas, and landscaped channels. It was developed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Sponge Collaborative on 16.6 acres, beside Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Porur.
A sponge park is designed to absorb, store, and purify rainwater, much like the function of wetlands. The concept was popularised by Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu, who championed the idea of “sponge cities”. Unlike traditional approaches that rely on gutters and drains to quickly channel rainwater out of urban areas, sponge cities focus on absorbing water through green roofs and walls, grass verges, rain gardens that capture and gradually release the water, and public squares and riverside parks designed to flood in controlled stages. Parks, or greenspaces, that can absorb rainwater can be one component of a sponge city.
Wetland reclaimed
The display board at the entrance of the park says the park reclaims a disappearing wetland that was once part of the expansive Porur Lake. Supporting over 85 species of native flora and fauna, the park has three zones: Zone A, in which a network of constructed wetland typologies including bioswales, sedimentation pond, aeration pond have been designed; Zone B, wherein an open-air gym, sports court, and kids play area are present; Zone C, where a variety of habitats are linked to support biodiversity. Throughout the park, informative boards provide detailed explanations of each wetland function. One board says, “Often referred to as ‘biological supermarkets’, wetlands generate significant food resources that attract numerous animal species. As plant material decomposes, it creates detritus that nourishes small insects and shellfish, which, in turn, sustain larger predators such as fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. In urban settings, wetlands play a crucial role in sustaining natural cycles, facilitating nutrient recycling, and enhancing biodiversity.”
The park features native species such as Indian sweet flag, soft rush, Indian toothcup, and the Arjuna tree. Visitors can also spot a variety of birds, including cattle egrets, black-winged stilts, Indian pond herons, Eurasian coots, little cormorants, and Pacific golden plovers.
Sponge parks are not new to Chennai, as the Greater Chennai Corporation has been designing them since 2022 and plans to create 50 more. What distinguishes the Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Wetland Ecopark, apart from its size, is that it has been specifically designed around a constructed waterbody and various wetland typologies.
The park is located on Chettiyar Agaram Road, with its main entrance and exit situated here. A security guard says that since the park shares a compound wall with Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, some people have mistakenly tried to enter through the hospital, but this is not the correct access point.
Deesna, a nature enthusiast with a passion for painting, was at the park for a painting picnic with friends. They all gathered in a corner of the viewing deck overlooking the aquatic pond, looking at the scenic waterbody dotted with patches of pink water lilies and Eurasian coots occasionally popping their heads out. “Parks usually have just play areas or benches, but this one has it all. Being here feels like becoming one with nature,” she says. One of her friends adds, “The park is peaceful and not too crowded. I’m not a fan of busy places, and I really enjoy hearing the bird calls,” he says. As soon as they started painting, Vaibhavi, a resident of Porur, joined them with her six-year-old daughter, who also enjoys painting. “I usually go to another park near my home, but this one is much nicer,” says Ms. Vaibhavi.
‘Maintenance is important’
The eco-park is still a work in progress, with the basketball hoop, badminton net, and ticket counter yet to be established. But everyone who visited it has expressed appreciation. “The park is very nice,” says Magesh, who came with his family to play basketball. He hopes it will be well-maintained and not meet the same fate as many other parks in the city. Magesh also suggests that introducing boating in the pond will enhance the park’s appeal.
As a group of walkers passes by the play area, they chat among themselves. “It would have been better had there been more shaded walkways,” one comments. Another pair of walkers says the boardwalk could be wider and the walking track should be longer for a more comfortable stroll. However, for Jayalakshmi, of Porur, this park makes her walk feel effortless. Time seems to fly by as there are so many sights to take in, and she becomes so absorbed that she keeps walking back and forth around the large pond. “At the park near my house, I would constantly check my watch to see how much longer I had to walk. Here, I can enjoy the trees, the pond, the plants, and the kids playing,” she says.
Published – April 06, 2025 10:42 pm IST