Burnham Park (Philippines)

Burnham Park (Baguio)
Burnham Park Lake
Burnham Park (Baguio)
Type	Urban park
Location	Legarda-Burnham-Kisad, Baguio, 2600 Benguet, Philippines
Coordinates	16°24′35″N 120°35′41″E / 16.409592°N 120.59479°ECoordinates: 16°24′35″N 120°35′41″E / 16.409592°N 120.59479°E
Area	32.84 hectare
Owned by	Baguio City Government(2008)
Open	All year

Burnham Park is a 32.84 hectare urban park located at the heart of the Baguio, in the Philippines. It was named after the American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham who laid the plans for the city.^[1] Several stretch of roads around the park lead to Camp John Hay, a former recreational base of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines.

At the southern part of the park, a skating rink was constructed. The Melvin Jones Grand Stand and Football Field at the eastern part of the park are normally used for several activities like parades, concerts, and political rallies. The Children's Park and the Orchidarium is located at the western part of the park. There are also bike rentals if one so wishes. You can rent either single bikes, tandem bikes or even bikes with side cars. They even have small bikes for the little kids of both two and three wheel versions.

When the 1990 Luzon earthquake killed more than 100 people in Baguio, many homes were destroyed, leaving many displaced people seeking refuge in Burnham Park.

Bust of Daniel Burnham

Facilities

Burnham Lake

The park features a man-made lake situated at the center where tourists can enjoy boating with rented boats.

Children Playground

Government of Baguio City and SM Prime Holdings Inc. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the improvement and rehabilitation of the Children’s Playground inside Burnham Park.^[2]

Skating Rink

At the southern end of Burnham Park, A public rink was constructed where skate rentals are available.

Rose Garden

One of the developments that clearly enhanced and improved the park is the major development of the Rose Garden.^[3] A bust of Daniel Burnham was erected inside the Rose Garden.

Orchidarium

At its center lies an orchid house and different kinds of orchids and other flowers.^[4]

Igorot Garden

It is very popular with the locals who like playing Chess. The Garden is dominated by a Statue of the 5 main Igorot Tribes the Ibalois, Bontocs, Kalingas, Ifugaos and the Kankanaeys.

Melvin Jones Grandstand

It has become host to a number of events, most notably the visit of the late Pope John Paul II in the 80s.^[5]

Athletic Bowl

It is planned to be rehabilitated including the installation of tartan tracks in the oval, the concreting and rehabilitation of its canals to include changing the roofing and posts in the view deck.^[6]

References

1. "Burnham Park, The very heart of Baguio City in the Philippines". Retrieved 2014-06-12.
2. "SM, Baguio ink deal to develop Children's Park". Sunstar Baguio. July 7, 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
3. http://mjurgeanne.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/267/
4. "Tourists flock to Baguio orchidarium". ABS-CBN News. June 18, 2009. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
5. http://www.baguio-city.net/2008/11/melvin-jones-grandstand-at-burnham-park.html
6. "Rehab works for Baguio athletic bowl set this year". Sunstar Baguio. March 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-12.

External links

• City of Pines Landmarks and Sites web page