CEPT University Names Swati Bungalow and Sukan Parks as Best Parks 2025; Honours Gardeners and Security Teams

 Swati Bungalow Park and Sukan Park, redeveloped by the UNM Foundation as part of its Pratiti program, a public-private partnership, were named winners in the 1.5 to 2 acres and 2 to 2.5 acres categories, respectively

• Bilkul Online
• Ahmedabad | 30 Oct 2025

CEPT University, today, announced the winners of the third edition of the Best Parks Award 2025. 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.

This year, Swati Bungalow Park and Sukan Park were named winners in the 1.5 to 2 acres and 2 to 2.5 acres categories, respectively. Both these parks were renovated and maintained by Torrent Group’s social and philanthropic arm, UNM Foundation, as part of its Pratiti program.

Pratiti, a program under the UNM Foundation, 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). 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 maintaining 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, in March 2024.

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. 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 Best Parks Award was instituted in 2019 by KCF and is headed by Prof. Pradip Khandwalla, former Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, to honour the memory of his late wife, Mrs Anjali Khandwalla, who was a passionate gardener. The first edition in 2019 and the second in 2022 were both celebrated as meaningful steps in encouraging civic responsibility and design excellence in urban open spaces.

The ceremony was graced by Kartikeya Sarabhai, Founder Director of the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) as the Chief Guest along with Prof Pradip Khandwalla, former Director, IIMA, Prof Barjor Mehta, President, CEPT University; Prof Tridip Suhrud, Provost,  Anita Hiranandani, Registrar; Prof Chirayu Bhatt, Dy Provost (Academics); Prof. Chandrani Chakrabarti, Program Chair, Master’s in Landscape Architecture (MLA),  Deval Jhaveri, GM, UNM Foundation;  Prakash Rathod, Manager, UNM Foundation, CEPT faculty members, students, and staff.

This year, for the third time, KCF and CEPT University joined hands to assess and identify the best parks occupying land owned by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.  As many as 127 parks spread over 1.5 to 2 acres and 2 to 2.5 acres categories were assessed for the study using Google Earth imagery data.

Through a multi-stage evaluation process, 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, Swati Bungalow Park and Sukan Park were declared the winners in their respective categories.

Emphasising the relevance of such projects in enriching academics, Prof. Chandrani Chakrabarti said, “At CEPT University, the Master’s in Landscape Architecture program bridges academic learning with real-world inquiry. Through the Best Parks Award initiative, students undertake perception-based studies to understand how city parks are used, valued, and experienced by people. The process highlights the often-overlooked role of small urban parks as vital social and ecological spaces that contribute to the city’s health, inclusivity, and resilience.”

The Best Parks Awards 2025, presented by CEPT University, the Khandwalla Creative Foundation, and the UNM Foundation, highlights the shared effort by academia, philanthropy, and community engagement to enhance urban life. It demonstrates how partnerships between educational institutions and social organisations can create meaningful impact—encouraging civic pride, environmental stewardship, and a collective responsibility towards building more sustainable, inclusive, and liveable cities.

(representative image of a garden)