Nairobi residents can once again use Central Park after the county government reopened the city’s popular green space following years of closure for rehabilitation and improvement of its facilities.
The reopening brings back one of the capital’s familiar public recreational areas, with the Nairobi County Government saying the park has been restored to provide residents with a cleaner, safer and more welcoming place to relax and enjoy outdoor activities.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said Central Park was a public facility that should be accessible to city residents, describing its reopening as part of the county’s wider effort to restore public spaces across Nairobi.
“Central Park belongs to the people of Nairobi. For too long, Nairobians were unable to enjoy this important green space, and today we are restoring it to its rightful owners the people,” Sakaja said.
“Our commitment is to ensure that our public spaces are accessible, safe, clean and properly maintained,” he added.
Sakaja said the reopening followed the restoration of Uhuru Park, marking another step in the county’s plan to bring Nairobi’s public recreational areas back into use.
“We are bringing Nairobi’s public spaces back to life. Uhuru Park is open, Central Park is now open, and our work does not stop here,” Sakaja said.
The governor said the county’s goal was to provide residents with public spaces where they could spend time safely and comfortably.
He said the county wanted a city where families could find “safe and dignified spaces to relax, walk, play and enjoy the beauty of Nairobi”.
Green Nairobi County Executive Committee Member Maureen Njeri said the return of Central Park was an important step in improving access to green and recreational areas for Nairobi residents.
“The reopening of Central Park is a significant moment for Nairobi. We have worked to restore this space so that residents can once again enjoy its greenery, walkways and recreational facilities in a safe and welcoming environment,” she said.
Njeri called on residents to help protect the facility by keeping it clean and taking care of the available amenities.
“Our responsibility now is to protect and maintain this park. We are calling on Nairobians to take ownership of Central Park, keep it clean and respect the facilities so that generations to come can continue to enjoy this important public space,” she said.
Central Park was closed as part of a wider rehabilitation programme covering Nairobi’s major parks. The Nairobi City County Assembly approved the closure of Central Park and Uhuru Park in September 2021 to allow for rehabilitation and retrofitting after years of neglect and declining facilities.
The rehabilitation works started in September 2021 under the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), with the project aimed at improving the parks and modernising their recreational facilities.
However, Central Park remained closed for longer than initially expected as completion and handover issues delayed its reopening.
With its return to public use, Central Park now joins Uhuru Park as one of the restored green spaces available to Nairobi residents in the centre of the capital.