Ahmedabad’s Swati Bungalow Park and Sukan Park, redeveloped by UNM Foundation under ‘Pratiti’ initiative, bag award for Best Park 2025 in the categories of 1.5 to 2 acres and 2 to 2.6 acres, respectively.
In recognition to the ecological restoration and preservation efforts of Torrent Group’s philanthropic arm – UNM Foundation, two public parks redeveloped and being maintained under the Foundation’s ‘Pratiti’ Initiative have been named as Best Parks 2025 by CEPT University.
Swati Bungalow Park and Sukan Park located in Ahmedabad city were named winners in the 1.5 to 2 acres and 2 to 2.6 acres categories of the Best Parks Award 2025, respectively. Both these parks were renovated and are maintained by UNM Foundation as part of its ‘Pratiti’ program – a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Foundation and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
This is the 3rd edition of the Best Parks Award initiative, organised by the Master’s in Landscape Architecture (MLA) program at CEPT University under the framework of an MoU with the Khandwalla Creative Foundation (KCF). The Best Parks Award initiative documents and evaluates parks across the city and honours the individuals dedicated to keeping the city’s green spaces thriving.
In order to honour the relentless dedication and care with which these parks are maintained, the gardening and security teams of each park were felicitated at a ceremony held on the CEPT campus on Wednesday.
Each of the gardeners and security guards received a personalised all-season Gardeners’ Kit curated by the CEPT team, comprising essential weather gear such as a backpack, waterproof poncho, winter jacket, summer hat and a water bottle; thoughtfully selected to support them through every season of outdoor work.
The Awards ceremony was graced by noted environmentalist and Founder Director of the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Kartikeya Sarabhai as the Chief Guest along with Prof Barjor Mehta, President, CEPT University; Prof Tridip Suhrud, Provost, Prof. Chirayu Bhatt, Dy Provost (Academics); Prof. Chandrani Chakrabarti, Programme Chair, Master’s in Landscape Architecture (MLA), faculty members, students, and staff.
As part of the assessment process, total 127 parks, occupying land owned by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, were assessed in the 1.5 to 2 acres and 2 to 2.6 acres categories using Google Earth imagery data. Of these, 36 parks were shortlisted for further detailed evaluation on key parameters such as spatial structure and design, biodiversity and environmental quality, user experience and engagement, and amenities, infrastructure, and contextual understanding.
Following this comprehensive assessment, UNM Foundation’s Swati Bungalow Park and Sukan Park were declared the winners in their respective categories.
UNM Foundation, under its ‘Pratiti’ program – a Public Private Partnership – develops and maintains green spaces through a sustainable and cost-effective model.
Under the programme, the UNM Foundation has developed, restored, and currently maintains approximately 8.44 lakh square metres of green spaces — covering 17 gardens, 2 lakes, an urban forest, across Ahmedabad, Surat, and Daman (U.T.), and the afforestation of Shetrunjay Hills (Palitana). Plans are afoot to further expand the footprint of Pratiti initiative, including extending it to Maharashtra.
By creating rejuvenated community spaces, it now attracts over 60 lakh visitors annually, reflecting strong community engagement and the need for more urban green spaces.
The foundation has also committed to maintain 69 Lakes covering an area of 2 million square meters in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts. In the City Beauty Competition by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Lokmanya Tilak (Victoria) Garden, restored and maintained under Pratiti, was awarded the 1st rank in the ‘Green Space’ category, in India.
UNM Foundation expressed gratitude to the Khandwalla Creative Foundation, CEPT University and the Jury for recognizing this commitment to sustainable urban living.
UNM Foundation, named after the Founder of Torrent Group U.N. Mehta, is a not-for-profit organisation that carries out philanthropic activities, with focus on art & culture, healthcare, education and enhancement of employability, regeneration of the environment and urban renewal. UNM Foundation is fully funded by the Mehta family & the Torrent Group of companies.
Under Healthcare, REACH (Reach Each Child) initiative caters to the healthcare and nutrition needs of over 1.8 lakh children in more than 2,000 villages. The focus on education addresses the learning needs and infrastructure requirements for school children under the Shikshasetu initiative – benefiting over 30,000 students of 117 schools in over 112 villages. The Foundation also promotes art & culture through initiatives such as Abhivyakti – the city arts project with editions in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhuj – providing a platform to budding artists from Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance & Music backgrounds and making art accessible to the masses, free of cost.
With an aim to develop and nurture sustainable ecology, UNM Foundation’s PRATITI Initiative endeavours to restore, redevelop and create new Gardens and Lakes across cities. Through the aggregate impact of these and other initiatives, the UNM Foundation strives to ensure lasting improvements in the society. The Pratiti programme was formalised in 2016 as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the UNM Foundation and local governing bodies to develop, maintain, and restore urban parks. The Foundation has also committed to maintain 69 Lakes covering an area of 2 million square meters in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts. It is the Pratiti initiative that has restored city icons like Parimal Garden, Lokmanya Tilak (Victoria) garden, and Sardar Baug.
Also Read: Mehta Family to donate Rs 5000 crores to UNM Foundation to Honour Torrent Founder https://www.vibesofindia.com/mehta-family-to-donate-rs-5000-crores-to-unm-foundation-to-honour-torrent-founder/
