Kittu Park: for a stroll by the pond at Chennai’s West Mambalam

Walkers at Kittu Park, West Mambalam in Chennai
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

One might think a waterbody at Mambalam in Chennai would be a rare sight, especially considering the area’s perennial water shortage issues. Yet, located in this busy neighbourhood is Kittu Park, a greenspace built around a pond. The park, frequented by Mambalam residents, is located on Elliamman Koil Street.

Kittu Park was once the temple tank of Kothandaramar Temple nearby. In the last few years, it has been renovated into a public park. The area around the park was historically a site for poojas associated with the Ayodhya Mandapam and Elliamman temple bhajans. Today, however, it has a play area for children at the entrance, beyond which there is a pond with ducks, surrounded by a walkway.

Interestingly, while jogging is prohibited in the park (violators may be handed over to the police, according to the signage), feeding the ducks is allowed. R. Ramesh, a regular walker, shares, “In Mambalam, there isn’t much space to walk around since the area is always crowded. Parks like this are one of the few options available for a peaceful walk.” He also notes that many visitors feed the ducks various snacks, particularly bread and biscuits, and believes this practice should be better regulated.

Parents with young children appreciate the park’s play equipment, but some say it may need maintenance in the coming months to keep it in good condition. They say that proper upkeep is important for the park’s continued enjoyment. While Kittu Park may not be as expansive as other greenspaces around West Mambalam and T. Nagar, it still serves its purpose well with its wide, circular walkway and benches for rest.

One downside, however, is parking. The area around Elliamman Koil Street tends to be congested, as walkers often park their bikes on the street. “After 6.30 p.m. it is tough to get a spot to park two-wheelers, so we leave them in the neighbouring bylanes. A designated parking space or some traffic police personnel here to regulate the crowd could help,” says Vasu, a resident of West Mambalam.

A staff member from a nearby eatery mentions that this haphazard parking causes traffic jams, especially during weekdays when regular vehicular traffic movement is also high.