Clusters of towering modern structures featuring the latest trends and technologies afforded urbanites an unparalleled level of comfort, convenience, and luxury, but living in this dense concrete jungle can also deprive one of lush greenery, wide-open spaces, and fresh air. Healthy living becomes more elusive with the lack of ample spaces for activities, unless more efforts are thrown towards balance and wellness. Favor the suburbs for an address and you’ll need to contend with time-consuming traffic going to and fro your offices, schools and other establishments and institutions.
Fortunately, developers like Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and Eton Properties Philippines Inc. (EPPI) have become more aware of this conundrum, of needing to choose between practicality and well-being. Beyond creating modern communities, ALI and EPPI have created sustainable solutions that allow modern city dwellers to thrive with a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.
Parklinks, a 35-ha mixed use development by ALI and EPPI, offers that much-needed space in a bustling metro, as their greenest urban development puts a premium on open space, healthy and active living, connectivity and accessibility.
BALANCED URBAN LIFESTYLE
Located within Pasig City and Quezon City, Parklinks is masterplanned to provide the residents, locators, and tenants easy access to parks and open spaces—considered a luxury in today’s urban setting. These parks have been strategically placed throughout the estate so these will be a mere five-minute walk from residences, offices and commercial areas through a well-designed and managed walkway system.
“What sets Parklinks apart is that 50 percent of its 35 hectares are devoted to open spaces,” noted Mel Ignacio, head of project development at ALI.
The C5 area, where the estate is located, will benefit from an increase in parks and recreational space, set to truly make Parklinks the ‘green lung of the metro.’
Based on the masterplan, a 3-ha central park will rise at the heart of the estate, while the natural features of the Marikina River will be highlighted through an esplanade, river park terraces, running and bike trails and riparian gardens. Aside from accentuating the natural topography of the land, these facilities will encourage the community to appreciate the surrounding river system.
Parklinks will also feature zones with gardens, waterfront entertainment and an outdoor amphitheater. Parks lined with restaurants, multipurpose lawns, eco walks and view decks along the Marikina River are likewise included in the design.
“We want to offer something innovative to the market and Parklinks’ features and amenities will provide opportunities for a different lifestyle,” said Juan Antonio Gatuslao, EPPI deputy chief operating officer. “We enhanced the whole development with various zones where residents and visitors can relax and engage in recreational activities.”
CONNECTIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY
A much-awaited feature of Parklinks will be the iconic 110-meter long, 25-meter wide bridge that will link Quezon City and Pasig over the Marikina River. This new route will help ease vehicular traffic in the northeastern and eastern portions of Metro Manila. The bridge will also have dedicated lanes for bikers and pedestrians to allow for a safe and convenient commute around the development.
For now, Parklinks will be accessible via C5 Road, Amang Rodriguez Avenue and Ortigas Avenue, providing residents, tenants and guests with easy access to major central business districts including those in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas Center, and Triangle Park Quezon City. The estate will further benefit from a proposed multi-lane elevated flyover, which forms part of the government’s aggressive infrastructure initiative.
HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE
Beyond its features and amenities, Parklinks is set to provide the exceptional benefits of estate living with its well-designed fusion of residential, office and commercial developments. It further distinguishes itself by setting new standards in sustainable waterfront living.
One of the projects to rise within the estate is Ayala Land Premier’s (ALP) Parklinks North Tower, the first luxury residential development along the C5 corridor. Residential towers by Alveo and Avida will likewise be developed within Parklinks.
The Parklinks’ lifestyle mall, set to open by 2023, will serve as the anchor of the development. This regional mall, which will feature five floors of premium retail, dining and entertainment options, will be situated along the estate’s C5 frontage. Above the mall will be a massive 3,500-sqm sports complex, which will enable residents to enjoy a more active lifestyle through its basketball, volleyball, badminton, gym and dance facilities.
Currently, three office towers are already in the pipeline under the phase one development of Parklinks. The first of these will also be situated above the Parklinks Mall, providing workers and visitors with seamless access to and from commercial and office areas.
“It is a reflection of our purpose to enrich lives and make things better than before for everyone’s benefit,” Ignacio concluded.