Greenbelt Park
Greenbelt is a complex consisting of five malls called Greenbelt 1-5. Currently, the oldest Greenbelt 1 but still a class A development. Greenbelt 3 and 4 as a social facility consisting of posh shops, nice theatres, a food court /game center and restaurants / bars for the lunch and night crowd that is great for socializing. In the middle of it all, a mini-park and open air chapel for Catholic and for foreigner viewers, with frequent and well attended Masses. Currently one of the better places to while away the daytime hours, the night crowd is fashionable and fresh.
Greenbelt Park is located in and around the Greenbelt Malls, used to be a wide green grass right in the middle of this two city block area. In the 1970's the south area already had a lagoon surrounded by gardens, a chapel and an aviary. A building for retail shops and restaurants was built sometime in the early 1980s up to the 1990s. Then through a series of construction, the old Greenbelt Mall and its supermarket and restaurants were finally demolished to build the Greenbelt Mall Complex.
The lagoon and the chapel remained to concerve its beauty and uniqueness to other gardens. Few places were converted to Zen gardens and water fountains built around the complex. The lagoon that remained, circling its way through the park, has become the focal point of the complex. In the morning, you can see fishes in the pond swimming comfortably throughout it, while small kids try to feed them with stale bread to the consternation of the park’s guards.
I’ve been walking in its vicinity for a couple of months now, from work, it really is a stress reliever to walk and see a beautiful park with a lagoon and a lot of greeneries that cools and purifies the air. Strolling from one mall to another is quite relaxing. Although the mall complex caters to the A and B classes, the park itself welcomes people from all walks of life, taking in their fill of this green oasis in the heart of Makati’s premiere shopping mall.
People stop and admire the beauty of the green park, variety of different family of flowers and therapeutic water gardens. Although stepping on the grass is not allowed, there are areas with seats that open up to well-lighted water fountains and greeneries. Feel free to sit and relax. When you enter the Greenbelt area, you feel that the air is cooler. It is not because of the air conditioning but because the area has plenty of greenery arranged in tasteful landscapes. That it appeals to the eyes & even relaxes the soul, that’s why it is a good place for a chapel, to unwind and refresh.
BY LYSANDER LOUISE DE LEON
I’ve been walking in its vicinity for a couple of months now, from work, it really is a stress reliever to walk and see a beautiful park with a lagoon and a lot of greeneries that cools and purifies the air. Strolling from one mall to another is quite relaxing. Although the mall complex caters to the A and B classes, the park itself welcomes people from all walks of life, taking in their fill of this green oasis in the heart of Makati’s premiere shopping mall.