By Jacqueline Salvador-Marvida
LOCATED along the De Jesus Oval at the Kasalikasan Garden in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig, is the longest linear park in the Metro. A linear park is in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide—a 1.6-kilometer stretch of landscaped, its length close to New York City’s The High Line.
The BGC Greenway Park lies at the western part of the city. From one end, it connects McKinley Parkway to different offices and residential buildings, such as the Bellagio, Bonifacio Ridge and all the way to the Net Plaza.
Today Metro Manila has become an urban jungle. The once green and healthy city is now too crowded and chaotic, as open spaces have taken a backseat to make room for skyscrapers and condominiums. Urbanites are finding it difficult to pursue a sound and healthy lifestyle when the air they breathe in is a mixture of hazardous, exhaust gas from various modes of transport, plus there’s always the danger of encountering accidents on the road due to incoming vehicles. BGC’s master planner and developer Fort Bonifacio Development Corp. has found a way to make its community a safe and walkable city.
The BGC Greenway Park provides BGCitizens a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of daily living. One can peacefully enjoy a midday stroll just to drown out the noise either at home or at work and, at the same time, the patches of green spaces dotted along the urban park serve as perfect lounging areas for families and friends to spend time with one another. For hearty conversations on laidback days or a place to go for a picnic, or for those people living an active lifestyle, the park is a safe place to run/jog, bike or walk the dog. It is also a good place to hold events such as a Sunday flea market or film screenings and other social functions. It is open to the public daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Parks and trails can improve health in several ways, including increased physical activity—walkable access to appropriate sites motivates people to participate in physical activity and to do so more frequently; improve mental health—parks can serve as a venue for stress reduction; environmental benefits due to the reduction of air and water pollution; community interaction—parks can provide meeting places for neighbors; reduce injury—parks and trails can provide safe spaces for people to play and exercise away from busy streets and commercial zones.
Imagine waking up to a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a run. You take a quick shower, put on your running clothes, tie your shoelaces and head out. You make your way to the BGC Greenway Park. It’s still early, it’s peaceful. Great! No distractions. You breathe in the fresh air and feast your eyes on the lush greenery lining the length of the park with the beautiful BGC cityscape as a backdrop. You look over to the other side and see a group huddled in laughter at the Manila Golf Club. This is the life.
So you begin stretching, and slowly work up your pace. One step, then another until you lose yourself in the moment. Then you slow down, take a deep breath and stop. That was a good run. You haven’t had anything like it in a while. That is the BGC Greenway experience.