By Office of Public Affairs
27 July 2022– AIT community members now have a new place for recreational and physical activities within the campus. The Wellness Park, a multipurpose recreational area, was inaugurated by AIT President Dr. Eden Woon on 27 July 2022.
With a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, including their family members and children, AIT has always placed a high priority on social activities and has numerous facilities such as football and cricket grounds, swimming pool, gymnasium, basketball, badminton, and tennis courts. The Wellness Park reinvents a similar playground within the campus that was damaged by the frequent inundation and ground subsidence since the 2011 floods.
Speaking about the development of the playground, Mr. Wanchai Sophonsakulrat, Director, Office of Facilities and Assets Management (OFAM), said, “We first developed this site as a Tai Chi ground with assistance from our Taiwanese Alumni. With additional aid last year, we began the design, construction, and installation of the playground. Although it took several months, we are finally pleased to have created a multipurpose facility for all residents in the community, including children, teenagers, and adults”.
The park is equipped with a sand pit, tunnel, spring benches for kids, different playground equipment sets, and exercise equipment. OFAM also constructed several benches and structures fabricated from recycled timber removed from walkway ceilings across the campus as part of its sustainability initiative.
Stating that the park is something that AIT has wanted to share with the community for some time, Russell Bruce Rein, Vice President for Administration (VPA), said, “A lot of hard work has been put up by OFAM and the contractors to create this space. We had a vision and today is a commemoration of that plan. I hope you find it a wonderful place to congregate as a community.”
Highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic enhanced people’s perspectives of social well-being, AIT President Dr. Eden Woon said, “One of the many things the pandemic taught us was the importance of our wellness. The fear of getting the virus occupied us so much that we feared regular activities. Nevertheless, we started taking care of ourselves and cherished the little moments in life.”
“Before the pandemic, we didn’t think of going to the park and enjoying ourselves. The lockdown has given a different viewpoint, and this has become an excellent way of getting together with the community”, he added. He applauded the hard work of OFAM and hoped everyone utilizes the park facilities to enjoy. He further said, “AIT focuses on giving its residents a good academic, research, and living environment, and I believe we have been doing so step by step.”
