A unique addition to the city’s green space is the Freedom Park, completed in 2009. For the first time anywhere in India, a historical prison has been converted into a public park. What was the City Central Jail, located in the centre of the city, is now a 15 acre multi use urban park. Built in 1866, soon after the first war of independence in 1857,it initially housed several freedom fighters and later during the emergency in 1975, eminent national leaders like Atal Behari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani,Deve Gowda and Ramakrishna Hegde.It also hosted the India Against Corruption (IAC) supported by Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast for governmental action in the enactment of the Lok Pal bill.
In designing the new park, the architects have shown a historical sense by retaining the radial symmetry of the jail complex and the old structures like the Central Watch Tower, the View Tower and the barracks.The park has more to it than just the rally area; it has a joggers track (3,000 sq m), children’s play area (5,200 sq m), jail museum, information corridor gallery, book museum, children’s interactive museum in the old cells yard, tree museum and an outdoor exhibition park.
The Freedom Wall stretch of the old jail will house a permanent multimedia art sculpture court, pathway junctions, designer souvenir shops, book shop, traditional craft stalls, 150-seater amphitheater, 50-seater enclosed theater space and an open plaza for gathering.A green landscape with lovely trees, shrubs and ground covers provide for a pleasing and relaxing environment.
For the Bangalore City Corporation, the old jail premises is an ideal lung space as it is located close to the Bangalore race course. For serial protestors and professional rally-ists, the freedom park would have a 5-acre separate area for holding protests and rallies.
A dedicated area for holding public rallies and demonstrations , the first such concept in India has truly transformed the jail into a centre of liberty. a true celebration of freedom of speech and Indian democracy!