Kowloon Park

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Kowloon Park

The Kowloon Park is a large public park in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. The park is managed by Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

History

The park was formerly a site of Whitfield Camp barracks for British force with a battery(Kowloon West Battery II) on its west side.

In 1970, Urban Council redeveloped the site into the Kowloon Park.

Part of the site was occupied in the construction of the MTR from 1975 - 1978.

"Golden Mile" controversy

The Government was criticised when the Executive Council approved plans in 1982 for a strip of retail premises fronting Nathan Road to be carved into the hill of Kowloon Park.

The move was first proposed when the Barracks were converted into public open space in 1970, and ignited some controversy. It was opposed by the Urban Council, as well as the moslem community, whose mosque was close by.

The rights for the development of the 5,410 sq metre strip were sold in February 1983 to a subsidiary of New World Development for $218 million

Facilities

Tree walk

There are some Stone wall trees growing on the walls adjacent to aviary pond in Kowloon Park.

Museums

One preserved historic barrack, Block S58, is used as a godown of Hong Kong Museum of History. Three other preserved buildings of the former barracks are used as museums:

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

Blocks S61 and S62 of former Whitfield Camp are "Grade III historical buildings" which were constructed in circa 1910. They are a pair of identical two storied colonial military barrack blocks. The roofs are pitched with Chinese tiles with tar finish. They housed the former Hong Kong Museum of History from 1983 to 1998 before the completion of the present Hong Kong Museum of History at Chatham Road South. An extension block linking the two historical barracks was constructed in the 1980s to provide more space for the museum facilities. It now houses the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre.

Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre

Block S4 of former Whitfield Camp is a two-storied colonial military barrack building which is identical to Blocks S61 and S62. It nows houses Health Education Exhibition and Resources Centre.

Sporting facilities

The park houses an indoor sport center and a 50 metre swimming pool which are often used for some international sport events.

Other facilities

The former Kowloon West Battery II, which was graded as Grade I historic building, was converted into a children's adventure playground in Kowloon Park; it is still recognizable for what it was, however. The gun emplacements have been renovated. Naval guns have been mounted in each emplacement after they were discovered at a construction site at Chatham Road in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1980.

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