After several years of neglect, attempts to privatise, vandalism, and lockout, the Chiang Mai Railway Park suffered a swift, radical clean-up in May 2023. The work was undertaken by the Provincial Administrative Organisation under an arrangement with the State Railways of Thailand. Advance notices in the form of signage and public notifications, as required by law, were not given.
Here’s how the park currently looks:
1. Looking West from the community building. Formerly many trees and shrubs in the foreground – all gone.
2. Formerly hide-and-seek hedges around all the paths, many young trees and a curtain of tall trees obscuring the brothel.
3. In the northwest corner, some trees are still standing, but an exquisite Tabel Lagerstromea cochincninensis was cut to the ground.
4. West of the centre.
5. Formerly thick with Wa trees, Syzyguim cummini was bulldozed, leaving a mess of shallow roots.
6. Hedges and trees are gone, exposing the temple
7. This pool is never open for swimming except for dogs, toads and mosquitoes.
8. In the distance, the large, never-developed area of weeds has been cleared and is suitable for mass community tree planting.
9. Looking West, on the left, a fast-growing Takien Noo tree, Anogeissus accuminata, one of five that volunteers planted, survives the blitz.
10. East again, the area cries out for shade.
11. Swimming pool?
12. A close-up of the Kachao tree, Holoptelia integrfolia, that we planted.
13. A handful of local trees planted by the community spared destruction. Not so a stand of Tong Kwaw, Butea monosperma trees planted under the leadership of former Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn. Many other trees are now gone, separating the path from the bare foreground.
14. Kachao tree, Holoptelia integrfolia , full view, destined to overtop the exotic Rain Tree behind.
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