Editorial | Hong Kong deserves more from its playgrounds

The sorry sight of the city’s playgrounds cordoned off by railings or plastic tape is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. But even before they became off limits to the people as a result of the lockdown, they were not much of a delight anyway. Unlike some overseas playgrounds that fuel the desire to explore and add to the character of the neighbourhood, the Hong Kong ones, in particular those in public housing estates, are seemingly cast in the same mould. It says something about our lack of creativity and policy inertia.

The Ombudsman is not a fan of our playgrounds either. Noting the installations in public housing are often in poor shape, it decided to launch an investigation into the mechanism of maintenance and repair. Many people also found the design to be outdated and uninspiring, falling short of people’s demand for outdoor leisure and fitness, it said.

Nothing is too trivial when it comes to improving people’s livelihood. The maladministration watchdog is to be commended for examining an aspect of social living that is often overlooked. The Housing Authority was managing some 4,500 sites with recreational and fitness facilities by January last year. They are pivotal to the well-being of hundreds of thousands of residents who may not be able to afford private clubs, playgroups and gyms.

Like many others, the Hong Kong government has its policy blind spots and inertia. It has to be asked why the facilities cannot have more varieties and be better maintained. It would be a shame if public health is hampered by bureaucracy and mismanagement.

A search on the internet yields a wealth of cool and inviting designs, such as Parque Gulliver in the Spanish city of Valencia. They redefine the concept of playgrounds and appeal to children and adults alike. We are not asking for such masterpieces in each estate. Indeed the slides and climbs today look more whimsical and safer than the ones from the last century. But as in the past, they look awfully similar. We perhaps could not blame the colonial government for the lack of variety. The public housing units back then were also basic and identical. It was an era when functionality came before quality and innovation. But we deserve better today.