Open space systems have become an integral part of city planning as a result of the intense demand for outdoor recreation and a growing concern for conservation. Open spaces have always been a breathing space for the dense urban fabric or a place for recreation and retreat for the urban population. Thimphu’s people have traditionally visited religious places as a source of solace and meditation. These will be discussed in detail in another section.

Open space systems not only act as recreation space but also vitalize the social and cultural activities of the city. They play a major role in controlling and managing the urban environment, health and climate. Hiking, picnicking, camping, fishing and pleasure driving are amongst the present popular recreational activities in Thimphu in addition to the regular sports. Providing the space needed for these activities in close proximity to the urban communities has become an urgent necessity in all - urban centers.

4.3.1 EXISTING OPEN SPACES IN THIMPHU CITY

Thimphu City has very limited defined out - door recreational spaces. The historic Changlimithang Sports Ground, and the recently established Royal Botanical Garden are the two large public open spaces within the city area. The Changlimithang ground is the place were a decisive battle in Bhutanese history was fought in 1885, which gave virtual control of the whole country to the future first king, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck. This ground provides sports facilities for football, archery, squash, billiards and tennis. Other major outdoor recreation spaces are the golf ground located nears the Tashichho Dzong, and one nears the Royal Body Guard camp. Both these grounds have restricted access to the public. There are a few urban squares like the Clock Tower Square, which has a small children’s play area, and the plaza near the Lugar Cinema Hall, which is private land. These squares need rejuvenation and revitalization to make them more enjoyable. Other than the Mini Children’s Zoo near the Youth Center, the city does not have any defined playgrounds, or other recreational facilities for children. Generally, children occupy the streets, vacant lands, parking spaces and footpaths for their recreational activities. These will slowly disappear as private parties build up vacant land.

4.3.2 PROPOSED OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

As a city, Thimphu lacks an organized open space system. A city has to provide a variety of open spaces, which satisfy the great differences in recreational demands between different groups of the society. The city open space system should therefore contain a great variety of facilities and atmospheres, suitable for all kinds of special interest groups: challenging and autonomous places for the teens: serene rural and quiet for older people; or crowded and active areas for those who want stimulus and companionship.

Apart from the above - mentioned factors Thimphu, being the capital city, needs a variety of spaces, which would build its image as the capital of the nation. Another important factor is the even distribution of these open spaces. These recreational spaces should be distributed and located in close proximity to urban communities. Making this possible requires a new way of planning and managing the public open space system.

Taking into consideration the urgent necessity for an open space system and the above - mentioned factors, the proposed system provides five different categories of open spaces. The proposed open space system consists of:
• Recreational Open Spaces
• Waterfronts
• River and Stream Side Green Belt
• Conservational Open Spaces
• Heritage Open Spaces

These proposed open spaces aim at:
• Managing and enhancing the natural landscape to fulfill the recreational requirements.
• Rejuvenation and Revitalizing of the existing open spaces

4.3.2.1 RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACES

Recreational open spaces will provide facilities, and the atmosphere, for active public recreation like outdoor sports, social gatherings, crowded and active areas for those who want stimulus and competition. These spaces include the proposed community parks, sports grounds, health parks; city children’s parks with a variety of children’s play equipments and amusement facilities. There will be a city level central park, which will act as the “green heart” of the city, and a temporary exhibition ground to host exhibitions, public fairs and gatherings.

The main features of the proposed recreational open space system are the introduction of Community Parks in close proximity to the Neighborhood Nodes and Urban Hubs, the proposed City Children’s Park in Motithang, and the City Central Park within the Dzong precinct. The Community Parks will act as active, outdoor, recreational centers for the respective Urban Villages. They will also act as play grounds for certain schools. Each community park would house gardens, entertainment pavilions; children’s play areas, indoor and outdoor sports facilities.

The long awaited city level children’s park will come to fruition by the proposed large - scale City Children’s Park located near the Youth Center. The proposed location is in close proximity to the existing children’s zoo, which would be expanded into a national level Zoological Park. This children’s Park will house all varieties of children’s play equipment and facilities.

The proposed City Central Park located within the Dzong precinct, will act as the capital city’s central green space which will have wilderness green spaces, stroll gardens and water bodies. The character of this park will be subtle, when compared to other recreational open spaces and would be designed to enhance the Dzong precinct. This park will provide a serene atmosphere and will act as a place of retreat within the Urban Hub. The proposed Dechencholing Palace Garden is another major national level formal garden, located around the Dechencholing palace. This garden will enhance the palace precinct into a garden of national importance, and also serve as a large Recreational Open Space for the Urban Villages of north Thimphu. This garden would have formal flowerbeds, theme gardens, and stroll gardens, water bodies, Gazebos of a traditional style, an archery field, and other supporting facilities.

As discussed earlier rejuvenating and revitalizing the existing open spaces within the city limits is one of the prime aims of this system. This includes,
• Expansion and enhancement of the Royal Botanical Garden, and the Zoological Park into national level parks.
• Ameliorating the historic Changlimithang Sports Ground into a National Open Space.
• Rejuvenating the existing city urban squares like the Lugar Cinema Hall Square, and the Clock Tower Square, to make them reach their potentials.

4.3.2.2 WATERFRONTS

Waterfronts are also active recreational open spaces, but the characteristics of the spaces and the activities they support are different from other parks and gardens. The proposed waterfronts are located along the edge of the Wang Chhu, but only at locations were the banks are not ecologically sensitive. These waterfronts would provide riverside seating areas, entertainment and snack kiosks, children’s roller skating strips, jogging and cycling tracks, and as well as riverside stroll gardens.

The identified, locations for these spaces are the city riverfront area along the Wang Chhu near the weekly market and the elevated river edge of the Taba Urban Village. Apart from these two stretches there are a few other minor waterfronts proposed along the river in Lungtenphu, Chang Jiji, Hejo and Dechencholing Urban Villages.

4.3.2.3 CONSERVATIONAL RECREATION SPACES

Open spaces could do more than simply help one to relax, entertain and to establish contact with nature. There might be places where one enhances his or her knowledge, creativity or learns new skills or hobbies, widens one’s sensitivity towards nature and environment. Conservational recreational spaces are such spaces, which would provide a different approach to public recreation.

Ecologically sensitive areas like the Bird Habitat, Marshlands and Lower River Terraces will be defined as conservational recreational spaces, where the environment of the place is conserved, protected and enhanced, but at the same time their knowledge recreates the public. These spaces will promote environmental awareness, as well provide economic support to maintain and manage these conservation areas.

The proposed Babesa Birds Sanctuary near the Babesa marshlands, the proposed Ornithology Park and the Changangkha Nature Park, behind the swimming pool area, will aim at promoting research, public awareness and knowledge on the birds of Bhutan. The proposed Bio - diversity Park near the confluence of Ola Rong Chhu will promote studies and public awareness on the bio - diversity wealth of the nation. These conservation spaces will help in protecting the environmental assets of the city and also cultivate new hobbies and recreation, like bird watching and gardening. The developments in the above conservational open spaces will follow the guidelines and development regulations proposed for the respective environmental precincts.

4.3.2.4 RIVER AND STREAM SIDE GREEN BELT

River and streamside green belts are the environmental green corridor defined by the Riparian Protection Zone in the proposed Environmental Enhancement Precincts plan. This green belt acts as the spine of the city open space system running through the city longitudinally along the river and transversely up along the streams. This green belt would be served by a major pedestrian movement system “The River Side Walkway”, which connects all the Urban Villages and other precincts.

Though the purpose of this green belt is to protect and manage the river and streamside environments, the serene atmosphere of the river and its green belt would act as a place of recreation and retreat form the crowded urban environment. This green belt would house jogging track, seating areas, gardens and nurseries. All the above - mentioned activities would strictly follow the Development Control Regulation proposed for this precinct.

4.3.2.5 HERITAGE OPEN SPACES

Heritage Open Spaces are the open spaces proposed in the immediate surroundings, or in the open spaces associated with heritage structures, national monuments, traditional structures and important religious buildings. The proposal would develop and enhance these spaces to

ameliorate the heritage structures and their precinct, which will also act as a public open space. This proposal would also build up the image of the city as the capital of the nation.

Major heritage and national monuments precinct enhancement proposals; include the enhancement of Tashichho Dzong Precinct, Simtokha Dzong Precinct and Memorial Chorten Precinct. The enhancement of religious precincts would include precincts of all Lhakhangs, Monasteries and Chortens within the Municipal Corporation limits. Enhancement of traditional structure’s precincts includes the proposed “Artist’s Village” which would house a handicrafts center at the Babesa Traditional Village, and a proposed “Heritage Food Court” at Chang Jiji Traditional Village, which would serve traditional Bhutanese delicacies.

Apart from the enhancement of the existing heritage, religious and traditional precincts, three new religious precincts are proposed as part of heritage open space system. They are the islands of Zhabdrung, Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava located at strategic locations on the river. These islands with statue of Zhabdrung, Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava symbolize the culture, religion and tradition of the Buddhist kingdom, and will become one of religious landmarks of the city. The three statues would also symbolize good fortune, wealth and health for the capital city of the nation. The proposed land of the Zhabdrung is located near the existing Mani Wall at the confluence of Ola Rong Chhu and Wang Chhu. The statue would be part of the proposed City Gateway, blessing the people entering the capital of a Buddhist kingdom. The island of the Buddha is proposed on the island near the Changlimithang grounds. The location of the statue of the Buddha also relates to the present City Core of Thimphu. This statue would act as a major landmark for the City Core and also for the proposed city Riverfront. The island of the Guru Padmasambhava is proposed on the island north of Center for Bhutan Studies, near Hejo.

Note:
1. A brief description of the Tashichho Dzong precinct enhancement is discussed in the Proposed Open Space System, project list Table 4.4, under the title “Tashichho Dzong Central Park /King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Central Park”.
2. An elaborate description on other heritage precinct developments is discussed under the heading” Proposed Heritage Precincts”.

4.3.3 PATHWAY SYSTEM

The proposed open space systems are interlinked and connected to other land use precincts by means of the “pedestrian movement system”. Pedestrian paths are also a type of open space; most of the social interaction happens on the pathways, as opposed to public open spaces. The proposed pathway system can be classified into four levels of pathway networks

? Riverside pathway
? City peripheral pathway
? Transverse links and
? Adventure trails.

The Riverside Pathway is an arterial pedestrian system running on both of the banks of the river throughout the longitudinal section of the city, within the riverside green belt. This system also consists of cycle tracks and jogging tracks along certain stretches. The riverside pathway gets linked with the City Peripheral Pathway, acting as the buffer line between the urban development and the Blue Pine forests, by Transverse Link Pathways, which run along the streams. The riverside pathway on both sides of the river, get linked to each other by means of traditional footbridges at important locations.

As the riverside pathway connects the Urban Villages along the valley floor, a second level of pathway network the City Peripheral Pathway system connects the Urban Villages along the upper valley walls. This City Peripheral Pathway system will also have cycle tracks all along its network.

The third level of pathway network is the Adventure Trails which runs at higher altitudes within the Blue Pine forests, connecting major vantage points, camping and picnic spots, Lhakhang and Monasteries outside city boundary.

All three levels of pathway networks are linked together by the transverse link pathways, which run along the streams. These pathways also act as the boundary line for the Riparian Protection Zones, or the streamside green belt along the streams. The entire system of pathways are networked to link and serve the open space system, schools, urban nodes and the Urban Village settlements, heritage sites and other wilderness areas.

4.3.4 ZONING OF THE OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

The entire open space system within the city will be divided into seven major zones, based on the characteristics of the proposed open spaces, and to ease the management and maintenance of the open spaces. The first four zones are dedicated in memory of the past kings of Bhutan, and the remaining zones are named in relation to the respective Urban Villages.
The proposed zones are
• Sir Ugyen Wangchuck Memorial Eco - Park Zone

This zone extends from the southern city boundary to the confluence of Ola Rong Chhu and Wang Chhu, and includes all the open spaces proposed within this stretch. This zone consists of most of the ecological areas and proposed conservational recreation spaces.
• King Jigme Wangchuck Memorial Waterfront Zone

This zone extends from the confluence of Ola Rong Chhu Stream and the Wang Chhu River to the Lungten Zampa Bridge. This stretch consists of two waterfronts and a number of recreational open spaces.

• King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Waterfront Zone

This zone extends from the Lungten Zampa Bridge to the confluence of Jongshina stream and the river. This stretch consists of the proposed City Waterfront and few Heritage Open Spaces.

• Tashichho Dzong Central Park or Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Central Park

This stretch includes the existing golf course, the Dzong and its surrounding area, including the existing administrative buildings, the Hejo paddy fields that are demarcated as a reserved area and the open space west of the existing approach road to Dzong. This zone consists of the proposed City Central Park and Dzong precinct development area.

• Royal Palace Green Belt Zone

This stretch extends from the confluence of the Jongshina stream, and the river to the northern most end of the city boundary. This green belt consists of the Dechencholing Palace garden, Taba riverfront and other recreational and Heritage Open Spaces.

• Motithang Green Zone

This includes the proposed and existing open spaces within the lower and upper Motithang area.

• Changangkha Green Zone

This includes all the proposed and existing open spaces within the Changangkha Urban Village. Changankha Community Park becomes a part of this Green Zone.

Note: Elaborate description and details of each of the Proposed Open Spaces, and its zoning, is discussed in the project list table 4.4 which follows.

Note: Please click the following links to view the maps and tables.

MAP NO. 4.3 PROPOSED OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

MAP NO. 4.3A PROPOSED OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

MAP NO. 4.3B PROPOSED OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

MAP NO. 4.3C PROPOSED OPEN SPACE SYSTEM

MAP NO. 4.3 A PROPOSED SPORTS FACILITIES

MAP NO. 4.3 A1 PROPOSED SPORTS FACILITIES

MAP NO. 4.3 A2 PROPOSED SPORTS FACILITIES

MAP NO. 4.3 A3 PROPOSED SPORTS FACILITIES

TABLE 4.4: Project List – Proposed Open Space System