Once celebrated as the green lungs of Vasai-Virar, the city’s gardens and parks have now withered due to neglect.

Despite the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation allocating Rs 39 crore for park repair and maintenance in 2024-25, most of its 162 public gardens, including crematorium grounds, scenic gardens, children’s play areas, and lake parks, are in various states of decay. Several residents added that children are using the broken equipment as they have no other space for play and recreation. Seniors also use these places because they have nowhere else to go. A major concern is dim or nonexistent lighting, which creates serious safety issues in the parks.