Nepal, April 26 -- It has been four years since the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal. The quake, coupled with another 7.3 magnitude aftershock, among other smaller tremors, caused major destruction and claimed around 9,000 lives. However, the progress we have made in recovering from this disaster is far from satisfactory; people are still homeless and living in camps. Given how prone Nepal is to earthquakes, the importance of open public spaces cannot be overstated, especially in urban areas like Kathmandu, which are overcrowded. But the government is yet to make creating open spaces a priority.

Ironically, whatever little open spaces we have, like the Tundikhel or Khula Manch, the government has been actively using it for ...