Considering a break from the city’s hustle? Sau Ming Road Park offers a peaceful escape. This park has a unique story. It is more than just a green space.
Sau Ming Road Park is located in Kwun Tong District, Kowloon. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department operates it. The park is open year-round and accessible via Kwun Tong station. You can visit it any time.
Why was Sau Ming Road Park built? It stands as a memorial to a tragic event. On June 18, 1972, disastrous flooding struck. A hillside adjacent to this park failed killing 71 people. This event became known as the June 18 flooding. The park serves as a place of remembrance.
Following the tragedy, the Land Development Planning Committee made a crucial decision on June 30, 1972. They decided that the landslide site should become a memorial park. The original plan was to build a school there. But the city chose to honor the victims instead.
The collapsed slope was carefully rebuilt. Engineers created a gentler gradient. They improved the drainage to ensure stability. The Urban Council initially planned recreational facilities. These included badminton and basketball courts. However, the gentler slope took up more space. The recreational elements were dropped. A simpler garden was created instead.
Sau Ming Road Park finally opened in 1976. A stairway and pathway were built. These climb the slope and connect to Hiu Kwong Street. A rest garden provides a quiet space for reflection. In the early 1980s, the park was extended. A 560-square-metre section of land was added next to Kwun Tong Maryknoll College.
Today, Sau Ming Road Park offers more than just remembrance. The Kwun Tong District – Sau Ming Road Park Community Garden is located here. It has an address at 20 Sau Ming Road, Sau Mau Ping, Kwun Tong. The garden covers 200 square meters. It includes 30 planting plots. For enrollment information, contact the Kwun Tong District Leisure Services Office. The number is 2343 6123.
As you wander through Sau Ming Road Park, remember its history. It is a place of reflection. It is also a testament to resilience. The park offers a tranquil retreat. Take a moment to appreciate the peace and the memories held within.