Turning parking lots into parks

We all hear about the resurgence of open spaces in the light of the need for social distancing brought about by the pandemic. It may be one of the good things that will come out of this tragedy given that in the past years, our societies had been finding ways and means to decongest our habitats to increase the quality of our lives. The question is—where do we find the open spaces in the urban jungle of Metro Manila?

City administrators worldwide are grappling with the very same question as they are beginning to allow the opening of businesses and the resumption of commuter travel while pursuing the containment of the virus. And while you have residents tired of the lockdown and impatient to go out of their residences, there is still a lot of hesitation and fear in going back to their normal lives. Public transport has given in to bike commuting and pedestrian usage with a several fold increase projected in the next few months as commuters avoid the dense environment of the trains and buses. On the other hand, despite malls and restaurants opening up, only trickles of the public reluctantly are coming in to what once were their familiar

grounds. In turn, sprouting all over these cities are open-air cafés and f lea markets that are now more preferred by the public.

Thus a major reshaping of the cities, impromptu as the case may be, is now happening. And though most cities especially those in the first world economies had more than adequate public parks and other public spaces even before the Covid era, the need for open space has become more pronounced with a social distancing requirement dictating it. These cities are getting such additional breathing areas from almost everywhere. Once traffic filled roads are now cordoned off and converted into bike lanes. Unused sports arenas are now being converted into open air markets. Restaurants are allowed to take over the adjacent sidewalks for their open-air extensions. A “liberate the golf courses” movement is happening in some cities, targeting specifically public golf courses where it is now being contemplated to allow non-golfers to use the courses for leisurely walks and runs. And informal and unsaid as it maybe, cemeteries and graveyards are now seeing more visitors and activities during these times.

So where indeed can we find open spaces in Metro Manila to allow the needed social distancing for our residents? With bikers and pedestrians, the government is moving in the right direction with the opening up of bike lanes even in major thoroughfares—unheard of in the past. Hence, it is now supposedly safe to bike to work from Quezon City to Makati. But authorities can do more. Curbside can immediately be converted to widen sidewalks in many areas, especially with the increase of pedestrians that are avoiding mass transportation. Military camps and public golf courses can also be opened up, especially if we are only talking about pass through bikers and pedestrians.

Other resources now in abundance because of the drastic reduction in urban outdoors activities are the commercial parking spaces. These you can see in the central business districts in Metro Manila catering then to office workers and mall shoppers who have now mostly shifted online. These are now eerily vacant with parking lot demand at maybe 70 percent to 80 percent decrease from pre-covid usage. These can be perfect for public gatherings that require social distancing. Imagine Salcedo market, though not congested as how it was, now being done daily. Market offerings by both established and informal producers can be patronized by the public in such an open-air environment. Brick and mortar restaurants can now use these for al fresco dining or drive-thru orders. Evening concerts can be held as well as drive-in movie theaters. And why not, maybe drivein religious exercises can be held in these grounds. On a more permanent note, these parking spaces even be converted to urban farms utilizing hydroponics, which is more suitable in our urban environment.

The pandemic has indeed pushed us to look for open spaces—an idea we knew we needed in Metro Manila even before, but remained ignored. It will not be a difficult task to do now, not just because of the necessity but also because of the availability of spaces that can be converted immediately for such a use.

Thomas Tim Orbos was former DOTR undersecretary for roads and general manager of the MMDA. He is currently undertaking further studies at the Mccourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu