Oval Maidan
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Short description|Recreational activity ground in Mumbai}}File:Mumbai, India, Mumbai public park, Oval Maidan.jpg
Oval Maidan is a large Grade I recreational ground situated in South Mumbai, India.{{cite news|title=Mumbai's green getaways|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/slideshow_mumbai-s-green-getaways_1570587-2#top|accessdate=30 January 2012|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|date=29 July 2011}} It is so named because of its oval shape and is situated just south of Churchgate. It is a popular recreation ground, with the most popular sports played there being cricket and football. The ground measures {{convert|22|acres}} in area. Political rallies and religious functions are banned in the maidan.{{cite news|title=List 23 grounds as heritage spaces, panel tells BMC|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/List-23-grounds-as-heritage-spaces-panel-tells-BMC/270030/|accessdate=30 January 2012|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=7 February 2008}}
File:"Bombay Public Buildings, viewed from the Band Stand," c.1875.jpg
History
Until the early 20th century the vast expanses of the Oval Maidan, Azad Maidan, Cooperage Ground and Cross Maidan formed the area known as Esplanade.{{cite book|last=Kelly Shannon|first=Janina Gosseye|title=Reclaiming (the urbanism of) Mumbai Volume 3 of Explorations in/of urbanism|year=2009|publisher=SUN Academia|isbn=90-8506-694-8|pages=125}}
Until the late 20th century the ground was owned and run by the state government and was very poorly maintained. It was frequented by beggars, prostitutes and drug peddlers. Finally, in 1997 the Oval-Cooperage Residents Association (OCRA) was formed as a public charitable trust set up by the residents of the area. OCRA petitioned the Maharashtra government to maintain the Oval maidan. The Maharashtra government did not respond to the petition, leading the group to take it to the Mumbai High Court. The Court ruled in their favour, forcing the government to either maintain the maidan or hand it over to OCRA which it subsequently did.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
The OCRA then went about fencing the ground and building a jogging course around the periphery. A lane which cut through the diameter of the ground was metalled to facilitate a smoother thoroughfare.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
For a few years the former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar operated the Elf cricket academy to the north of the ground.
Gallery
File:Bombay - The High Court from afar (2006).jpg|Oval Maidan with Mumbai High Court in the background
File:Oval Maidan, Mumbai.jpg|Oval Maidan with Mumbai High Court Building
File:Mumbai, India, Rajabai Clock Tower and palm trees.jpg|Rajabai Clock Tower
File:Mumbai, India, Oval Maidan, Sports.jpg|Cricket games
File:Bicycle_bench.jpg|Fence around Oval Maidan
See also
References
{{reflist}}{{Mumbai topics}}{{Mumbai-geo-stub}}