Wright Park, Gibraltar multi-million dev’t slated

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY – The historic Wright Park in this summer capital is set to be developed along with nearby Barangay Gibraltar wherein a satellite market will be built.
    “The design development and feasibility study of the smaller areas of Wright Park is currently ongoing in anticipation of local government funds allocated for sub-projects,” said city planning and development office head architect Donna Rillera-Tabangin.
    In recent management committee meeting of local officials at Baguio Convention Center, she said the endeavor is spearheaded by her office in collaboration with the city buildings and architecture office (CBAO), city environment and parks management office (CEPMO), and concerned departments.
    Tabangin said the design and study would make it possible to program what specific sub-projects that would immediately be pursued within the whole Wright Park Development Plan with funds provided by the city government.
    “We are looking at how we can program the project in such a way that progress  can be appreciated on the work being done in specific parts of Wright Park as long as this is integrated on the overall design of the master plan,” she said.
    Last year, CEPMO head lawyer Rhenan Diwas presented a P717 million proposed Wright Park development plan that includes a P397 million parking building and conceptualized as a traditional nature park infused with the adventure of horse-back riding that has made the area popular to residents and visitors for all these years.
    Other than the four-storey parking facility, the “green architecture” conceptual framework also includes elevated walkways; decks and rest nooks; walkable areas and historic restorations; and more.
    As to the Gibraltar satellite market project, Tabangin said the second supplemental budget of 2021 added an additional P30 million to an earlier P50 million fund for the completion of the project’s phase I totaling P80 million.
    She said that the amount will be enough to complete the first three floors of the facility with the remaining two floors to be added when the amount of P30 million for its second phase is realized.

In Monday’s city council session meeting, Tabangin said she was advised that the design of the project be “scaled down and not look like a mall” but still look like a satellite market.

Several members of the august body suggested that the structure should not be enclosed but rather open, she added.

Primarily designed by the CBAO under Archt. Johnny Degay, the P100 million five-storey facility will not only function as a marketplace for the trading of produce but will also house indigenous  arts and crafts and local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The modern satellite market will also have a basement parking area.