Elevated park set to open
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to launch the country’s first public park over the Chao Phraya River next month.
The Phra Pok Klao Sky Park is located between the in-and-outbound lanes of Phra
Pok Klao Bridge. The bridge runs parallel to Memorial Bridge (Saphan Phut) and is not far from Pak Khlong Talat, the famous flower market on the Bangkok side, Wat Prayurawongsawat and Wong Wian Yai in the Thon Buri area. The public park was renovated from the unfinished skytrain structure, built in 1984. It was abandoned for more than 30 years until the BMA initiated the public park project a couple of years ago.
The elevated park is 280m in length and 8.5m wide. It accommodates 22,400m² space usage. The park will have an entrance on both the Bangkok and Thon Buri sides. There will also be a bicycle lane, seated areas and lifts to facilitate the elderly and those who use wheelchairs. The project is designed by the Urban Design and Development Centre, who have partnered with Land Process, N7A Architects and the Lighting Research and Innovation Centre.
The renovation has taken about one year and the investment is about 130 million baht. The elevated public park will be a new landmark where people can have a scenic view of the Chao Phraya River.
The BMA expects the park to help promote tourism in the capital.
To visit the park, public buses that stop at Saphan Phut bus station are bus numbers 8, 73 and 73Kor.
An alternative is to take an express boat ride and get off at Saphan Phut pier.
The closest MRT station is Sanam Chai. Walking distance from the station to the Phra Pok Klao Sky Park is about 700m.