Nano parks to revitalise Mong Kok
The Urban Renewal Authority on Sunday announced it would spruce up Mong Kok with a nano parks revitalisation pilot project, which could feature smart public fitness equipment. The authority’s managing director Wai Chi-sing said work on the first stage of the project is expected to begin in the first half of next year, and the revitalisation of six leisure areas on Shandong Street is expected to wrap up within four years. In a blog post, Wai said three major problems were identified in Mong Kok’s parks: scattered distribution of recreational spaces, a lack of diverse facilities, and that a distinct and unified design is missing. He said by unifying the design, reorganising the spatial layout, and revitalising park facilities, those nano recreational spaces can complement each other and cater to the needs of Hongkongers. Wai also said authorities will consider referencing "smart parks" on the mainland, and incorporate elements into some recreational and fitness facilities to promote exercise. "Using Shenzhen as an example, the city government [there] installed an outdoor intelligent fitness room system in multiple parks last year. “Users can record data such as height, weight, cardiovascular function, and exercise records through intelligent fitness equipment and send the relevant data to their mobile phones via the internet," he said.