Gurgaon: residents feel claustrophobic, demand open space for recreational activities

For the residents of DLF’s Ridgewood Estate, the absence of playgrounds and open spaces for their children’s recreation is more a cause of worry than the usual civic issues troubling the city.

For the residents of DLF’s Ridgewood Estate, the absence of playgrounds and open spaces for their children’s recreation is more a cause of worry than the usual civic issues troubling the city. The open spaces inside the condominium are allegedly used for commercial purposes by Ridge Valley School, which is located on the condominium premises.

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“The school came up some four years ago and we were in talks with the administration for letting our kids use the school’s playground to play after school hours,” said Sanjay Batra, joint secretary, Ridgewood Estate Condominium Association (RECA). Batra added that although the school administration initially agreed to let the children use the playground, they later asked for money.

“The school falls within the periphery of the complex we paid for. We should be benefitting from the playground here. How can they ask us to pay for it? Our kids struggle to find recreational space and they have to make do with the small green spaces that are already used by senior citizens,” says MC Gupta, secretary, RECA.

“I have to ask my son not to ride his cycle in the complex as he might be hit by cars. There is no space for him and his friends to play. He has taken to playing with electronic gadgets now,” said Meenal Dhanuka, a resident.

While the open spaces are unavailable, another under-construction school is posing security threats, claim residents. “The building is encroaching upon our complex,” said VK Verma, president, RECA.

The residents also said the builder had manipulated the original plan by renting out five shops within the complex.