Just wonder if Cricket on Shivaji Park is going to die?!

For people who are not aware of what Shivaji Park is....its a large open ground in the middle of Central Mumbai and is probably the size of 3-4 football grounds. It has a walking track around it and a couple of small play areas for kids and sitting area for elders. 80% of the ground is used by small cricket clubs who have pitches allocated to them to train kids to become cricket stars. Sachin and many more Mumbai players played on Shivaji Park in their early days and grew up in this amazing cricket environment.

So now to the problem.....Its very disappointing to see the state of the ground and the disruptions that happen almost every month.

The cricket pitch areas are rather well maintained but the areas between these pitches are an obstable course and it not something a youngster (maybe a future India player) would like to endure and hurt himself.

The place is probably not maintained because they are common areas and like everywhere else we donr respect common areas and only care for 'our' patch.

Also, almost every month there is a huge polical 'event' happens on Shivaji Park that kills any effort put in to clean up the place.

Now is there a solution? The solution is maybe with the few thousand families who live around Shivaji Park who love this open space (my wife being one of them  and grew up in this environment to finally play Basketball for Maharashtra!!) and would like to retain the 'beauty' and use it for their kids to be future stars :-).

I propose the follow solution (for whatever its worth):

1. The citizens of Shivaji Park should get together and form a development fund for the park. This can be funded by Rs 1 per person per day who walks on the park. Im sure this fund can collect a couple of lakhs per month to provide the necessary maintainance for the park.

2. Stop all political functions at the park. Easier said than done. Im sure if the corporators, MLAs and MP of the area get together this can happen. If not charge a HUGE AMOUNT to the organisation who uses the facility. (maybe your wont need the Rs 1 in that case :-). Use the money to make a super walking track and a top class cricket ground.

3. The glory of Shivaji Park come from the cricketers. Use the above funds to provide scholarships(Rs 250-500 per month) to 30 - 40 deserving cricketers(and coaches). Will encourage them to buy proper kits and build fitness needed for modern day cricketers.

I just think that the people living around Shivaji Park need to value what they have and do something about it.....but then like I said its easier said than done....isnt it?