Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation environment department, in collaboration with the National Society for Clean Cities (NSCC) and the Centre for Development Studies and Activities (CDSA), plans to develop 50 pocket parks across the city by August 2027.
Citizen participation will be central to the initiative, with residents encouraged to identify small, underutilised or neglected public spaces in their neighbourhoods that can potentially be converted into mini or nano parks.
The proposed parks will incorporate nature-based solutions and water-sensitive design to address climate-related challenges. Measures such as increasing permeable surfaces, improving rainwater absorption and management, and adding vegetation and shade are expected to help improve local environmental conditions and reduce heat.
Shyamal Desai, president, NSCC, said, “Citizens often ask where trees can be planted as the city needs more green spaces. This is where the idea of pocket gardens comes in. There are several public spaces that have been converted into dumping grounds. We will identify such spaces with the help of citizens and, with the necessary permissions from PMC, develop them into nano gardens.”
Desai said housing societies interested in developing such spaces would be provided with an architectural plan as well as support for execution and supervision, while the society would contribute towards the required materials.
{{/usCountry}}Desai said housing societies interested in developing such spaces would be provided with an architectural plan as well as support for execution and supervision, while the society would contribute towards the required materials.
{{/usCountry}}“We have so far received requests from a society in Kalyaninagar and the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics,” he said.
The initiative comes as CDSA marks its 50th anniversary in August 2026.
Madhav Jagtap, assistant commissioner, PMC said, “Though still in the planning phase, the initiative is to develop micro green spaces in the city.”