Thane has great weather for growing plants and thus has good gardens and parks. Here is a list of the best five parks of Thane - the link below leads you to the locations on Google Maps.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/B8YGwtvZZ6AQ6QXq7
Hiranandani Joggers Park: This by far is the best park in Thane and in keeping with one of the best parks at Mumbai being the Central Park at Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. This park is at an elevated spot and if one walks from the Central Avenue, it is a steep climb through trees and landscaping. Some part of the erstwhile natural landscape including trees has been retained in the park adding to its charm. There is even a small hillock that has been planted with grass and attracts children to climb up and play. The park has tennis courts which though are only open to members of the Hiranandani Meadows community.
One outstanding feature of the park is exotic trees planted within (one can even spot an African Babobab tree inside - though it is a young one and thus does not have a bulging, bottle-like trunk seen in older trees). Most parts of the park are covered by grass and seasonal flowers are planted at borders and within the landscape. The grass entices children, yoga enthusasists and others to just to sit and let the park's peaceful atmosphere seep in. The park has a paved path used by walkers and runners. Benches have been provided within along the pathway. This is a very popular park and is used early mornings and evenings by the local community as also visitors from elsewhere. There is a washroom just adjacent to the park near the exit close to a water tank. Also, in mornings the park has a kiosk selling juices one commonly finds in parks across India now-a-days. Vehicle parking is easy right outside the park. The park has two entrances.
Baobab tree at Hiranandani Joggers Park
TMC Garden at Hiranandani Meadows: This is a smaller park than the one at Hiranandani Meadows but in maintenance is of similar quality as parks at Hiranandani communities. It has an open air gym, children's play area and a large banyan tree outside at one corner. Vehicle parking is easy right outside the park. A walking path has been laid inside and the open areas landscaped with grass and shrubs. This park too is popular among walkers and runners. Apart from walking inside one can walk on the footpath outside too - with the foothpath right adjacent to the park and one closer to the buildings offering concentric paths for walking. This is a small park carved out of space adjacent to one of the buildings of Hiranandani Meadows and surrounded by buildings of the community all around. It is very close to Thane's famous Kashinath Ghanekar hall.
Urban Forest: Meant to help children learn traffic rules the place is listed in Google Maps as Children's Traffic Park Kavesar but has something more to offer. Adjacent to it the TMC has planted very dense cluster of trees on a hilly patch. The planted area has been left without beautification. The path laid out undulates around the large space and is laid with rough stones resembling cobblestone. Varieties of trees planted is very large and many of them have been tagged and details about them listed along with pictures of the tree, it's leaves, flowers and fruits. One can see butterflies flitting around and hear and see birds. Shaded hut likr sitting spaces have been made too. This forest like planting in Kavesar is very unique as when the all the planted trees grow bigger, the whole space will have dense shade from the trees. It will also add to oxygen at Thane with so many trees planted. Strictly speaking not a park in the real sense, this place has the bonus of a place that also has traffic lessons for children. It is in a quieter area of Thane and has ample vehicle parking space outside.
View of the Urban Jungle
TMC Biodiversity Park: Named a Biodiversity Park, this one is a mish-mash of ideas. The city government has spent a lot to make a green space with lot of flowering plants and trees and maintained them reasonably well. However, it is not clear why the park is called a Biodiversity Park as it has all kinds of plants - cultivated, exotic and more. The park is good for walks and also for games with one section dedicated to children. There are gazebos within to rest and relax. There are washrooms but they don't seem well maintained. To add to the confusion, there is also a theme of Harappa, an ancient city where Indian civilisation took root. So there are large replicas of art from Harappa as also layout of Harappan cities and models of its architecture. There also used to be working models of renewable energy and water conservation which have gone into disuse having not been maintained. There is no provision for vehicle parking outside.
Flowers at TMC Biodiversity Park
Salve Udyan: A very green space in Kopri, this is an amazing patch not too well maintained and thus adding to its charm of being jungle-like . Supposedly a nature park but described as a botanical garden on the web, this is a small park with a tiled path interspersed with pebbled sections. There are ornamental plants on the ground and in pots and also trees of all kinds. There are aquatic plants too. The trees have boards giving details about them. One can see groups using the park for learning about trees. There are couple of huts for resting. Water stations are in the making. One can see and hear birds within.
Fig tree at Salvi Udyan