“NO” to Burnham Park as a Theme Park
January 11, 2009 by lisa
Filed under attractions & landmarks
The lagoon with rowboats for hire is a relaxing place, the pool of water surrounded by overhanging branches providing residents and visitors a welcome respite from busy commercial areas around one of the Philippines best loved parks
Anthony de Leon, the general manager of the Baguio Country Club, is a prime mover in the tourism efforts of city, wearing many hats most times, and described by those he works with the words “dynamic” and “proactive.” He has founded and is currently serving in almost all the different corporations and organizations in the city: Hotel & Restaurant Association of Baguio, Baguio Tourism Council (BTC), Baguio Visitors and Convention Bureau (BCVC), as well as having been chairman of the Panagbenga.
Honestly, I like the man, love his energy, admire his contributions to tourism in the city. Sometimes I think that despite the energy, the many hats can take a toll on certain events themselves, like Panagbenga 2008, but all-in-all I respect his work.
In a conversation with him 14 months ago, my first question upon entering his office, as an icebreaker, was “Are you running for mayor?” and Anthony actually blushed as said, “The thought never crossed my mind.” The main reason I wanted to talk to him was because Mayor Bautista wanted to shift the focus of the city’s efforts towards education (the latter’s family owns UB) and away from tourism (and Anthony was doing everything he could for tourism) and the uncanny timing of the first non-collection of garbage fiasco.
The conversation eventually led to Burnham Park, and Anthony made his plans clear, that he wanted Burnham Park converted into a theme park. “It’s an amusement park already,” he said, referring to the boating, biking and skating activities that the city has granted concessions to private individuals for.
I said that Burnham Park should remain a green park.
Anthony said, “Baguio needs something new for tourists. We cannot have them come up and see the same old things.” Knowing he did not have time for a long debate (it was Fil-Am Golf 2007 Season), and we ended there.
Now comes a very recent news report, and he has come out in the open with his stand on Burnham Park and I, will come out with my stand on why Burnham Park should be a green park, not even an amusement park, and definitely not a theme park.
First let me start quotes from prominent writers who recognize the benefit of a park to a city, and who particularly love that beautiful property with a forced geometric design around which our city was built, a report of scientific study made about how a city can cause behavioral problems and the solution therefor, and our own city mayor who has rejected the idea.
“But the mayor has already rejected the idea of Burnham Park as a theme park,” you may say, “why are you still writing about a non-issue?”
Despite the mayor’s pronouncements, I do not consider the issue moot and academic because:
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- Because people change their minds, or say one thing and do another
- Because mayors can be changed, and the city will be again subject to the whims of another
- Because the Burnham Park is being threatened by development and we must protect our breathing space.
Here, then are external references on why Burnham Park should NOT be converted into a theme park.
1. “When American architect Daniel Burnham first drew up his city plan for Baguio in 1904, he saved the very best piece of real estate for a public park. His thinking reflected the progressive social values of the time. Government was expected to serve the people and provide for their health and recreation. A large public park with open fields and an artificial lake was considered a necessity for a modern urban environment.” – Jonathan Best: Burnham Park Then and Now
2. “Every green square meter of Burnham Park must be defended. It is the lungs of Baguio.” – Virginia de Guia, Baguio Ko Mahal Ko, December 30, 2007
3. Next allow me to quote an recent article: How the City Hurts Your Brain by the Boston Globe
Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain, and the results are chastening. Just being in an urban environment, they have found, impairs our basic mental processes…
When a park is properly designed, it can improve the function of the brain within minutes. As the Berman study demonstrates, just looking at a natural scene can lead to higher scores on tests of attention and memory. While people have searched high and low for ways to improve cognitive performance, from doping themselves with Red Bull to redesigning the layout of offices, it appears that few of these treatments are as effective as simply taking a walk in a natural place.
4. Our city mayor has rejected the suggestion, saying:
“Only the master development plan will be implemented if any improvement were to be done at Burnham Park.
All proposals that do not conform to the development plan will have to be set aside”
The city had previously approved a whopping 400 Million Development Plan for Burnham Park, and portions of that plan are scheduled for implementation. Now I cannot say I agree with the plan because of the erection of permanent structures thereon (there are plans for a multi-level parking building, they are planning to set up permanent commercial spaces for fast food restaurants).
Burnham Park, which City Council Parks Committee Chairman promised to the public, during a photo exhibit held at SM City Baguio a few months ago “Burnham Park will be a Green Park” is a classic case of folks saying something and doing just the opposite. After that speech, the skating rink has been walled up now has a bumper car operator doing business there.
And coming up in the next pages would be my reasons.
What a great way to cap my lunch, Lisa! I’d like to have what I just read sink in first.
Hi Resty, a blog post as dessert? That’s a first!
A most delicious dessert, Lisa, hehe. I would also like to acknowledge that Mr. de Leon did a good job with Session in Bloom last year. However, I beg to disagree with him when he says Burnham is already an amusement park. Here’s a quote from Mr. Jonathan Best:
“Amusement parks are designed to be exciting, noisy and commercial while formal gardens are decorative showcases for plants. Green parks are designed to provide piece and quiet, open space, fresh air and a direct link to unspoiled nature.”
Amusement centers make use of mechanical equipment that need power to make them move. Thus they use fuel and electricity and are noisy. Whereas the bicycles, boats and skates he refers to are human-powered and do not make use of fuel nor electricty and don’t make noise.
I still believe that everything Burnham Park needs to be is laid out in Mr. Best’s piece. May I add two quotes:
“Buildings, roadways and other artificial man-made structures are deliberately kept to a minimum so as not conflict with the natural environment of a green park.”
“Without a doubt the greatest threat to the park is from the ever-increasing number of cars, buses, and jeepneys which are allowed to park on the perimeters and directly inside the park. Motor vehicles do not belong in a park.”
As you have said, why is this so hard to do? We need a refuge from all the congestion, noise and air pollution going in the city. And Burnham should be that place.
I like Burnham park the way it is,even though several changes were made.I can imagine the horrific traffic once it becomes a theme park.No please.
in my opinion I’d like the city government to make Burnham park a theme park provided ifthe theme is The” original Baguio burnham park.”
Hi Eugene, yup the center of city is too congested already for us to even try to locate a new attraction there.
Hello Ed, you’re right! The original Burnham Park was planned by a premier urban planner. The current one is a hodgepodge of activities based on the whims of politicians with their own pet projects.
“The current one is a hodgepodge of activities based on the whims of politicians with their own pet projects.” -Lisa
That’s because if they screw it up, they don’t lose anything. It’s not like it’s their own personal property or personal money that’s at stake. Remember Jadewell? That company’s got us by our balls. Up to now, the city cannot even touch the Ganza parking area which is owned by the city and not Jadewell.
Oh but the Ganza thing was all about patronage. During Mauricio Domogan’s last term as mayor the deal was quietly was signed awarding 80% of revenues from collections of parking fees to Jadewell PLUS prime real estate space (Burnham Park). And what do we do? Elect the same people over and over again for multiple terms!
Its because politicians have everything to gain by their projects. Honestly, which projects that the public officials have undertaken benefits the city? Flyover, satellite markets cum migrant living spaces, overpasses, toilets/outhouses, bumper cars at the skating rink. The only ones I can think of are footpaths, but even then, those benefit only the homesteaders.
Baguio is getting smaller and we not have enough parking space to accommodate a fraction of vehicles on the street in downtown Baguio likewise we cannot also sacrifice the original beauty of our park landscapes but with enough budget and intelligent planning we can however have a win win solution here.In Korea where the land terrain is almost like Baguio,Parks in the middle of the bustling cities were left undisturbed and they are building even more.Its because under most of these parks is where the parking spaces and shops are,it is an underground multi parking level that even a small park can accommodate large number of vehicles and hardly anyone can notice it.Baguio doesn’t need a multi level underground parking for the fear of earthquake but then a single level can already do wonder.Imagine how many vehicles can the whole football ground in Melvin jones absorb.Its an engineering feat but at least Burham park can still retain its original landscape sans the ugly parking space by jadewell there.
Hi Ed,
I agree with any underground parking, the less cement over Burnham Park the better, with a few shops if they like because anything below a park can be “within the commerce of man.”
The city council should stop thinking of Burnham Park as Burnham Parking.
If I’m not mistaken, San Francisco which is also earthquake country, has an underground multi-parking area right in the heart of downtown in Union Square? Having one will surely cost big but will pay off in the long run.
Hi Resty,
All the times I’ve gone to San Francisco we never parked there, but I am thinking, in all places that are hit by earthquakes, there are buildings with underground parking so why should parking beneath a park be any more dangerous? Like what is more dangerous about digging under Burnham Park compared to say, Center Mall or Abanao Square?
And it might not even be an engineering feat anymore, like Ed Villanueva’s comment (above) mentions. Building a long underwater tunnel to connect Hong Kong and Kowloon islands, for example would be called an engineering feat.
It’s water under the bridge, but if we had enough foresight, the place where Baguio Center Mall is now would have made a perfect place for a multi-level parking area. But all is not lost, have the owner of that area where Star Cafe used to be invest in a parking structure, give him the support, etc. and save Burnham Park from destruction.
I used to hear that the Puyats owned that property; that they were originally planning to erect a 14 or 17 storey structure thereon but since the plan came after the earthquake, they were not permitted to do so.
Maybe UB and UC should be require to provide for parking buildings so their teachers, students, staff and owners do not park their vehicles all day on Session, Governor Pack, Harrison, Gen. Luna and Assumption roads.
There should also be time limits, not just parking fees. CBD should have the first two hours cheap and all succeeding hours expensive.
Jeepneys should always be moving, never stalled or parked to be filled up with passengers. This is how we see that we have an excess of routes and units. They do take up a lot of the parking downtown UNNECESSARILY.
Indeed we need a huge parking space to reduce vehicles parking besides the road that causes huge taffic jam during rush hours and the only way we can do now is for the city to provide a space underground.It will be too costly like Resty said but its worth it in the long run.And from what I know the underground edifice is safer than anybuilding higher than 4 floors above the ground,this is the reason why San Francisco and cities in Japan still built multi level underground buildings.
If Burnham Park becomes a theme park what it will be called? I am just wondering but I hope really, really, truly, (Lord have mercy) HOPE that they do not make Burnham into a theme park.
Oshangnanamet! (Lisa, refer to Nico for translation) Are they blind? That is the only remaining green patch in the central business district.
I am stumped by this news.
Lis, I forwarded this to Mr. De Leon.
I am seething I do not know what to say or write. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Hi Ed,
Multilevel parking below ground is the way to go, even single level if it is below Melvin Jones, as you mentioned or Athletic Bowl.
Hey Marionne,
Peter Rey Bautista has given it the thumbs down — so far. Your ex-boss feels the need for Baguio to have new attractions and I agree, but folks should stop wanting to touch Burnham Park (everybody) or Botanical Garden (Farinas).
Coming up, an article on my Baguio Attractions Wish List.
Hi Lisa!
How’re you doin, Arwin?! Glad you found the site
Burnham park is the only green space in the CBD, and we all know that baguio is very polluted now. Why make it to other things that will only make Baguio’s pollution worse?
You’re right, Neis, and to even suggest a theme park be put up there is unbelievable. Maybe it would be better all of us to ACTIVELY work on cleaning up the city first and making it prettier, before dreaming up of new things.
One thing for sure. I’m not going to vote for all these blokes who would like to destroy Burnham Park such as mayor Bautista and councilor Rondez come 2010.