A new green park sporting amusement and informative aspects, seen as a solution to the infotainment-starved denizens of Karur, is all set to bloom soon in the Kulandagoundanur area of the municipality. The 10-acre park will come up at a cost of Rs. 5 crore in about 12 months. The project is being funded under the Integrated Urban Development Mission.

For a town that does not have enough lung space for recreation and entertainment, the green park venture is a boon to the townsmen. The highlight of the green park is the eco-friendly initiatives that form an integral part of the project. The park is planned to sport three landscaped gardens spread over a total area of 1.41 lakh square feet. A separate space measuring over 12,000 square feet is set apart for raising medicinal plants, and information on them will be displayed.

An arboretum over an area of 12,000 square feet, where trees and shrubs are cultivated for exhibition and study, is planned at the garden and official sources claim that this perhaps could be the first municipality park, apart from a professional botanical park, anywhere in the State to feature an arboretum.

Apart from a spacious children's play area spread over 47,000 square feet, which will have the regular see-saw, slide, swing etc, the green park will boast of a rock garden occupying around 8,000 square feet. Elders and children alike will find the pre-history garden to be developed over another 8,000 square feet interesting, and informative as it will have models of more than 20 pre-historic, extinct creatures that strode the earth millions of years ago. The additional interest will be the nurturing of live species of plants that grew in that age but have survived the vicissitudes of time to remain alive even now.

Then there will be an exclusive palm forest sporting 20 to 25 species of palmyra trees, that are being rooted out due to expansion of highways in several parts of the State. A dedicated place for raising aromatic plants, herbs and shrubs, dubbed aptly ‘Suganthavanam,' will be established where flower varieties Shenbagam and Manoranjitham, creepers and shrubs will be planted, underneath which benches will be provided for visitors to savour peace and tranquillity.

Space for roller skating, an open theatre with a stage, an artificial beach, an aquarium with freshwater fish species, and shade grass lawn over 20,000 square feet will all be there at the green park, the centre of which will have a musical fountain and around which a toy train will chug along with electric engine. Even public lightings in the park will rely on eco-friendly, sustainable power sources such as solar equipment to make the park a new experience, say municipal sources.