For the planners and builders of the sensory park in Kolkata, inclusivity is more than just lip service. Few parks offer features like swings that can accommodate wheelchairs, see-saws equipped with seat belts to ensure safety, and signs in braille to aid the visually impaired. This park welcomes children with and without special needs, fostering interaction to make inclusivity a lived reality rather than just a trend.
Debasish Sen, former chairman and managing director of the Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), explains, “Green verges and parks in New Town are maintained and controlled by NKDA, except for Eco Urban Village and Eco Park.
One of the green verges was allowed by NKDA to be developed using CSR funds from LTI at no cost to NKDA or NKGSCCL (Smart City Corporation of NKDA, known as New Town Green Smart City Corporation Ltd). The Smart City framework encourages collaboration with private and public authorities. New Town being an inclusive township we were happy to encourage setting up a park that is friendly to differently abled children.” inclusivity
Initially, a sensory park was established in Action Area 1A of New Town but fell into disuse. This led to the idea of developing a new park, inspired by the success of a similar project in Bengaluru. The 2.5-acre park, located in New Town Action Area II near Owl More, is bustling on weekend evenings.
NGOs often organize activities for differently abled children, bringing the park’s purpose to life. Many parents, including those from distant areas like Dhakuria, bring their children here, further emphasizing the project’s success. Built by LTI Mindtree, the sensory park, aptly named Anandamela, has become a happy space for children and parents alike. Elderly citizens also find it an ideal spot to spend quality time. inclusivity inclusivity
Key Features of the Inclusive Park
Sakhi Singhi from the India Autism Centre highlights the park’s unique features based on her firsthand experience there:
The entire park, including washrooms and flooring, is wheelchair-friendly, catering to both children with disabilities and elderly visitors.
The play equipment is accessible to everyone, fostering interaction between mainstream children and those with disabilities. This helps children with disabilities feel included while teaching mainstream children compassion.
A mini-auditorium offers educational experiences, such as learning about planets.
The park includes braille boards, sandpits, and sensory play options. inclusivity
It is impeccably clean and well-maintained by NKDA. inclusivity
Adults accompanying children can also relive their childhood through various activities.
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Other Unique Features of the Park
The park features a series of interlocking hexagonal galleries that provide a sensory experience for differently-abled children. These galleries include two vestibules that merge into a breakout zone with a garden bridge. The bridge connects two irregularly shaped water bodies within the park, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and doubles up as an experiential game area. At the far end of the park, visitors can enjoy a food court and an event amphitheatre. The park is designed to inspire joy and curiosity, offering children the opportunity to make delightful discoveries at every turn. in
Various game zones, such as the sandpit and fossil dig area, play hive, driftwood climb, boulder scramble, balloon forest, jungle campsite, water and sand pits, slide valleys, and swings, encourage the development of intellectual, language, social, and motor skills in children. inclusivity inclusivity
Semi-outdoor sensory galleries with interactive, information-based tools are equipped with tactile surfaces, installation sculptures, and thematic consoles, adding to the park’s immersive experience.
To ensure safety and inclusivity, the park incorporates several barrier-free elements, including wheelchair stations, a digital companion system, Braille plaques, navigation signs, rounded corners, rumble strips along paths and joints, a public address system, skid-free flooring, and accessible ramps. Additional features such as motion detector LED sensors, automatic sliding doors, sensor aids for easy movement, and file reader access control systems provide a seamless and safe visitor experience.
Waiting gazebos and audio-visual explanation tools at the park’s entrance help visitors understand the facilities available. A gift shop is also present for souvenirs. Accessibility is seamlessly integrated into the design of this state-of-the-art sensory park.
Inception of the Sensory Park
LTI Mindtree appointed a project management company to efficiently implement the sensory park’s design. After completion, LTI Mindtree maintained the park for a year, after which NKDA assumed responsibility for its upkeep. LTI Mindtree apart from setting up sensory parks also provides digital literacy training to especially abled youths. Their CSR activities are people-centric, and compassion driven. The sensory park being its most mindful and unique project. inclusivity
When asked how the idea for the sensory park originated, Paneesh Rao of LTI Mindtree, who oversaw the project, shared: “Mindtree was committed to diversity employment long before its merger with L&T, hiring individuals of different sexual orientations, languages, and ethnicities. While working as a human resource professional at Mindtree, we began plans for a sensory park in Bengaluru, collaborating with the Karnataka state government to allocate land. The success of that project inspired us to replicate the model in Kolkata. With the support of Debasish Sen, we selected a residential area instead of a commercial one to make the park accessible to local children.”
Overcoming Challenges
Building such a unique park came with its own challenges. Rao recalls, “Initially, the local community was apprehensive, but we shared our plans with them, and they eventually cooperated enthusiastically. Now, I’m glad people are using it, and many like you are showing interest.”
The park’s equipment is fully wheelchair-accessible and imported. The ground is made of durable, injury-resistant material to ensure the safety of children and elderly visitors. Along with handing over the completed project to NKDA, LTI Mindtree provided technical manuals and warranty documents for the equipment to facilitate maintenance.
Expanding the Vision
In addition to Bengaluru and Kolkata, a similar sensory park has been established in Chandigarh, welcoming children with disabilities into society. These parks have become vibrant meeting grounds for children of all abilities, enabling them to explore a world as joyful and dynamic as they are. Sakhi Singhi of the India Autism Centre aptly says, “I hope the good work doesn’t stop with the sensory park at New Town. More such parks should be established across Kolkata to ensure children with disabilities have equal opportunities to learn and grow.” After all, everyone deserves their turn on the swing!
Image Courtesy: LTI Mindtree
Surela Chakraborty is a freelance writer by profession and passion. Her works have been published in several print and digital media. She also loves to dabble with poetry, dance and music. As an avid traveler she seeks adventure and believes to live life that is bold and different. Nature, human emotions and life experiences inspire the poet in her.
