Kowloon Park
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| Traditional Chinese | 九龍公園 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 九龙公园 | ||||||||||
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The Kowloon Park is a large public park in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. The park is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
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History
The park was formerly a site of Whitfield Camp barracks for British force with a battery(Kowloon West Battery II) on its west side.
In 1970, Urban Council redeveloped the site into the Kowloon Park.[1]
Part of the site was occupied in the construction of the MTR from 1975 - 1978.
"Golden Mile" controversy
The Government was criticised when the Executive Council approved plans in 1982 for a strip of retail premises fronting Nathan Road to be carved into the hill of Kowloon Park.
The move was first proposed when the Barracks were converted into public open space in 1970, and ignited some controversy. It was opposed by the Urban Council, as well as the moslem community, whose mosque was close by[2].
The rights for the development of the 5,410 sq metre strip were sold in February 1983 to a subsidiary of New World Development for $218 million[3]
Facilities
Tree walk
There is a tree walk located next to the Rose Garden.
Stone Wall Trees
There are some Stone wall trees growing on the walls adjacent to aviary pond in Kowloon Park.
Museums
One preserved historic barrack, Block S58, is used as a godown of Hong Kong Museum of History. Three other preserved buildings of the former barracks are used as museums:
Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre
Blocks S61 and S62 of former Whitfield Camp are "Grade III historical buildings" which were constructed in circa 1910. They are a pair of identical two storied colonial military barrack blocks. The roofs are pitched with Chinese tiles with tar finish. They housed the former Hong Kong Museum of History from 1983 to 1998 before the completion of the present Hong Kong Museum of History at Chatham Road South. An extension block linking the two historical barracks was constructed in the 1980s to provide more space for the museum facilities. It now houses the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.[4].
Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre
Block S4 of former Whitfield Camp is a two-storied colonial military barrack building which is identical to Blocks S61 and S62. It now houses the Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre.
Sporting facilities
The park houses an indoor sport center and a large aquatics center. The pool complex includes four indoor heated pools, including an Olympic sized 50-meter main pool, a 25-meter training pool, a 20-meter diving pools and a free form leisure pool. There are three outdoor leisure pools of irregular shapes linked together by waterfalls. In addition, there is a circular paddling pool and a sunbathing area. The Swimming Complex opened on 12 September 1989 and can accommodate a maximum of 1530 swimmers, with an annual attendance of more than 1 million visitors. As one of the best equipped swimming pools in Hong Kong, it is the only venue on the Kowloon side suitable for staging major or international swimming events.[5]
Other facilities
The former Kowloon West Battery II, which was graded as Grade I historic building, was converted into a children's adventure playground in Kowloon Park; it is still recognizable for what it was, however. The gun emplacements have been renovated. Naval guns have been mounted in each emplacement after they were discovered at a construction site at Chatham Road in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1980.[1]
Gallery
 Swimming pool pavilion in Kowloon Park |
 A map of the Kowloon Park |
 A map of the Tree Walk |
See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kowloon Park |
References
- ^ a b The Geographical Information System on Hong Kong Heritage
- ^ Michael Chugani, Kowloon Park land sale plan tipped to spark row, South China Morning Post, Jan 10, 1982
- ^ Jim Gilchrist, 'Bargain' $218m for park site, South China Morning Post, February 06 1983
- ^ Blogger: Connexion en vue de la lecture
- ^ [1] Hong Kong Leisure Department]
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