Early Sunday morning in smoggy conditions, an 18-year-old youth was running alongside trucks and buses on the busy Yamuna Kinara road. When stopped for a brief chat, he expressed his frustration, “When there are no free playgrounds or open spaces, where should we practice running and stamina building for competitions?”
This young man is not alone. Thousands of sports lovers in Agra lament the loss of open playgrounds. “Private schools and colleges don’t allow outsiders, the few parks that had grounds now charge entry fees. If you have money, you can go to a gym or an academy. Nothing is free now,” said high school footballer Amit.
The rapid disappearance of public playgrounds and free sporting facilities in Agra calls for critical reflection on the impact this trend has on youth and community wellness. Once vibrant with activity, spaces such as Paliwal Park and Subhash Park, integral to the lives of many, have turned into exclusionary zones either through bans on entry or by imposing entry fees. The Kothi Meena Bazar is rented out to Bhagwat Katha or carnival organizers. During winter holidays, children can’t play on roads, as it’s unsafe and open spaces have turned into car parking slots or vending zones.
This transformation has dire implications, especially for children during their vacations. In the past, these parks and fields served as vital community hubs where children gathered to play cricket, football, and a variety of traditional sports. Such activities fostered not only physical health but also social skills, teamwork, and a sense of belonging. However, with the rising commercialization of these spaces, children now face barriers to accessing the very environments that encouraged physical activity. Entry fees and restrictions discourage families from utilizing these recreational areas, pushing the youth towards sedentary activities, primarily screen time on mobile devices.
This shift raises a pertinent question: where should children play? The absence of accessible public spaces stifles their natural inclination to engage in outdoor activities. Instead of enjoying the freedom that a playground offers, they are often left with little choice but to entertain themselves indoors, with mobile devices taking precedence over physical play. This not only exacerbates the issue of childhood obesity but also affects mental health, as children miss out on the social interactions and physical challenges that sports provide.
A nation that desires to foster athletes, yet limits access to play, seems to have misaligned priorities. Furthermore, the proliferation of sports academies, which often charge hefty fees, contributes to an elitist culture where only those from financially capable backgrounds can afford to pursue sports seriously. This trend of commercialization prioritizes profit over community wellness and accessibility. The emphasis shifts from nurturing talent for the joy of sport and communal health to viewing activities primarily as a viable business venture.
The absence of even a single playground in this vibrant city is a glaring indictment of the municipal bodies responsible for its development. The Agra Municipal Corporation, Agra Development Authority, District Board, and Divisional Commissionerate seem to have turned a blind eye to the urgent need for spaces where the city’s youth can engage in physical activity and leisure pursuits. Instead of fostering healthy lifestyles, these bodies have allowed open spaces to be usurped by commercial interests, prioritizing profit over public well-being.
This neglect has far-reaching consequences. Without access to sports facilities, young people are deprived of opportunities for physical development, stress relief, and social interaction. The lack of recreational spaces breeds frustration and discontent, potentially leading to anti-social behavior. Moreover, the absence of sporting infrastructure hinders the development of local talent and prevents Agra from nurturing future sports champions.
The Agra municipal bodies should take immediate action to rectify this situation. They must prioritize the allocation of funds and resources for the development of sports complexes, playgrounds, and recreational parks across the city.
