Stillness in the grove as city parks treasure midnight

Almost all 688 city, district, and community parks are staying open from now on for evening exercises, midnight strolls, and escapes to nature after sunset.

Despite increased costs for lighting and security, parks and green spaces in Zhuhai, which is a National Forest City and National Civilized City, are now accessible 24 hours a day even during festivals.

It is the city's desire to fully meet people's leisure and exercise needs, according to a notice released by the Zhuhai Urban Management & Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau.

Actually, most of the Zhuhai green areas are already "night gardens." Because of safety and noise concerns, however, the night list excludes mountain parks and neighborhood grounds with sports equipment.

Sea & Sky (Haitian) Rest Station in Jida [Photo by Zhong Fan / Zhuhai Daily]

Municipal parks all have improved and flexible security management. Security personnel keep an eye on late-night visitors and make sure noise levels are low, said Ye Qiao, who is in charge at the landscaping management company responsible for maintenance.

In addition, nearly 140 community parks have complete and accountable monitoring and management systems. Services adapt to changing visitor flows, said Su Ruimin, head of Zhuhai Zhengfang Public Resource Operation Co.

Park managers also must follow refined maintenance standards. For example, landscaping and decorative lights should be on until 10 pm for ambiance and damage prevention. Also, no more than 20 percent of a park's total grounds can be fenced in for afforestation or temporary work.