Phuc Tan Forest Park: From a garbage dump to green land

From an abandoned and garbage-filled land, Phuc Tan Forest Park (Phuc Tan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) has been revived with an attractive new appearance. This transformation into a cool, green space now attracts people to indulge in leisure activities and relaxation.

From garbage dump to playground - Transform space to create new joy

For many years, the Phuc Tan Forest Park area had been notorious for hosting a large landfill site for waste disposal. Polluted air and strong stench were the culprits of the local residents' drastically dwindling quality of life.

The landfill once occupied the area. (Photo: Think Playgrounds)

With a concerted effort to rescue this area, recently, the Think Playgrounds social enterprise, in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Hoan Kiem District, the People’s Committee of Phuc Tan Ward, and the local community in Phuc Tan Ward (Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi), along with the financial support from the HiGreen - Green Dawn campaign of MB Bank, has converted the former landfill site in the ward (at the foot of Long Bien Bridge) into the forest park playground.

The playground and training area alone cover nearly 1,000 square meters, accommodating children, adults, and people with disabilities in community activities. Designed with the theme “Long Bien - Where the Sky Meets the Land,” the park features various games and equipment, making Phuc Tan Forest Park an appealing destination not only for local residents but also visitors.

Phuc Tan Forest Park after renovation. (Photo: WealthInHealth)

In addition to the recreational and sports training area, Phuc Tan Forest Park also features a community garden for cultivating a variety of trees and flowers.

Photo: WealthInHealth

As stated by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Luan (Head of the Residential Community 1, Phuc Tan Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi), the project is greeted with strong support, solidarity and high determination from the local community. In order to create such a “green” playground, a team of young architects, along with nearly 200 residents, and members of the Women’s Union, Youth Union, and Veterans Association of Phuc Tan Ward, along with volunteers, have collectively put their joint effort into cleaning up waste, planting trees, and building a community garden within 2 months.

Video: WealthInHealth

“Thanks to this playground, we elderly now find more joy, make more friends, and our health has also improved noticeably”, Mrs. Le Thi Hoa (Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) shared.

As a hobby, Mrs. Hoa takes her offspring to the park for exercises every afternoon. (Photo: WealthInHealth)

It also provides opportunities for visitors to gain more knowledge about nature, culture, and society. “Green areas like Phuc Tan Forest Park are suitable destinations for improving physical fitness and raising awareness about environmental protection among the capital’s residents” Pham Thanh Duy (sophomore at the International University, Hanoi National University) stated.

Phuc Tan Forest Park has become a new playground for students after school. (Photo: WealthInHealth) 

Greening waste - A new solution for environmental protection

Nowadays, the move towards a sustainable environment is facing many challenges and requires concerted efforts from many sides. Waste management is still inadequate, with a low recycling rate and many places still littering indiscriminately. Therefore, greening waste and environmental restoration are seen as new directions towards a sustainable environment.

Think Playgrounds can be seen a promising step towards transformation. Most of the playground and training areas in the park are built from recycled objects such as bottles, old tires, and glass. This transmits many messages about protecting and improving the environment.

Many items in the park are recycled from glass, wheels, rubber, etc. (Photo: WealthInHealth)

According to the founders of Think Playgrounds, “community-based environmental protection” is key to ecological conservation. Each individual's actions, such as recycling, planting trees, reducing plastic use, and conserving energy, contribute to a sustainable community. Community cohesion and cooperation not only solve environmental problems more effectively but also create a healthier, safer, and more livable environment. When citizens act responsibly, community spirit strengthens, accelerating progress towards a green, sustainable life.

(Photo: WealthInHealth)

The park is also a habitat for several bird species. Therefore, the founders have set up a comprehensive board for children to explore and immerse themselves in the spectacular nature when they visit this place. 

The Phuc Tan Forest Park project both contributes to preventing encroachment on the river and lake system and creates more recreational spaces for the public. Additionally, it exploits cultural and tourism activities along the Red River. This concept of an “environmentally friendly” playground promises to expand public spaces, incorporating a humanitarian aspect, bonding people with nature and fostering genuine connections between vulnerable groups and the community in the future. 

About Think Playgrounds (TPG)

Established in 2014, Think Playgrounds (TPG) is a social enterprise with a mission to work alongside communities to build playgrounds, community gardens, and renovate public spaces to be more friendly and inclusive in urban areas across Vietnam. To date, TPG has collaborated with many partners, communities, and sponsors to construct over 200 playgrounds, community gardens, and renovate public spaces throughout the country.

In your opinion, can turning garbage dumps into playgrounds solve the waste problem?

• Yes, but temporary.
• Absolutely not.
• Entirely possible.