Save The Ulaanbaatar Children's Park! Updated

Back from a great trip to the Gobi, and I’ll share stories soon, but there’s something urgent to address first. While I was away, Michael Kohn wrote in about a looming issue in order to rile me to protest. Well, it worked. Michael lived in Mongolia for several years as a journalist and is the author of the Lonely Planet Mongolia guidebooks, as well as Dateline: Mongolia, and the only book in English about our beloved Danzan Ravjaa, Lama of the Gobi. He loves this place, and wrote in distress about the political and corporate machinations that are leading to the destruction of the one and only park in Ulaanbaatar, the Nairamdal Children’s Park.

I was shocked by this. A couple years ago, there had been a welcome plan to cooperate with the Japanese to upgrade and beautify the park, which was going to seed and sported dilapidated Soviet-era amusement rides. A fence went up all around the perimeter and then...nothing happened beyond access being denied to the public anymore.

Then I heard that the Japanese deal was off, and that a chunk had been apportioned for a new Shangri-la hotel. Bad enough, but now Michael says there are plans afoot to privatize the whole thing and develop it as an exclusive, gated apartment complex.

Let me say it again. This is UB’s only park for a city of 1,000,000+ people. The only spread of green in the city to counter the atrocious air pollution. The only place in town for people to take their kids to run around free from traffic. The only serene break for the citizens from the near-hysteria of construction that threatens to gobble up every square inch of open space in a seemingly-unchecked spasm of shortsighted greed.

Here's a post on another blog about this, with really alarming photos.

Need I mention that I’ve seen my life Brown Shrike, Richard’s Pipit, Hawfinch, and Naumann’s Thrush there?

It is also, as longtime readers will recall, home to the Holy Golden Marmot.

So. That’s really enough. I care about this city and that’s where the line must be drawn.

Michael has made a modest start. He has launched an informative blog, Save The Ulaanbaatar Children’s Park, and a Facebook page dedicated to the cause. The first action he is calling for, and I second this, is to write a personal, signed letter to Prime Minister Bayar. Mail it to Michael before November 15 and he will hand deliver it: Michael Kohn, Children’s Park Campaign, 1045 Macadamia Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010, USA.

Here’s a form letter to use, but feel free to personalize it, such as explaining your connection to Mongolia if you’re a foreign citizen. To DODR’s Mongolian readers, I urge you most of all to do this! This is your city and your children’s city and you have the power to persuade your officials, elected by you to serve you, to save the Children’s Park. Of course, please be polite and respectful:

Dear Prime Minster Bayar,

I am writing to you out of concern for the closed Children’s Park. I understand that the park has been slated for redevelopment and will be filled with apartment blocks and office buildings. I regret this decision and urge you to take any means from developing the park commercially. It must remain a public place for use by the citizens of Ulaanbaatar.

As the only park in the city it needs to be preserved and maintained for the benefit of all Mongolians. The park is a haven of peace and quiet in the center of the busy city, a place where families can relax and children can play. Saving the park will promote good health as citizens can use it for walking, jogging and biking. The park is a monument for the city and admired by foreign visitors who come to Ulaanbaatar for business and pleasure. The park breaks up the urban sprawl and its greenery reduces air pollution.

The park does not need major redevelopment. It does not need a fancy amusement park or shops. It should be saved as an open space with pathways, small ponds, grassy fields and trees. I urge you to stop any development projects and to save the Children's Park for future generations of Mongolians.

Thank you,

(Print and sign your name)

UPDATE: Michael points me, and now I point you, to the heighth of Ulaanbaatar protest fashion wear, a cool green Save The park t-shirt he's put up for sale. Now we just gotta do one in Mongolian...

Comments

[minnie]

done, & done. it will go in the mail this morning. i do have to say, i had to print this twice, because my printer decided to interpret Thank you, as Ul bo! !zpv-

[Sarabaite]

Wow, does that ever sound like L.A. in C.A. If a building is in any way inconvenient, down it goes, regardless of history or aesthetics. And a park? HaHaHaHa! Parks don't generate taxes! They're just a place for drug dealers and homeless to hang out! Though, it does sound a bit worse over there. ONE park? Really? We do have a few patches here and there, if I were to be honest.

BTW, one of my kids, who has now learned enough English to be a little more conversational with me, told me that he spent four years in Mongolia. He's from Korea, so I'm now curious for him to tell me more about two countries instead of one.