Steal Park

Steal Park or Green Cabbage Green is a 5-hectare park in the East Periphery District of Kien-k'ang. The park is around half wooded areas, and the other half is divided into grassy areas, flowerbeds, and footpaths.

History

Pre-PSW

In the early modern period, the outer city of Kien-k'ang had some underpopulated areas following the the Civil War of 1503 – 31, and these were generally put to use as animal pastures or farmland growing commercial crops like fruits that could not withstand preservation. This is because it was within the city walls and close to the local market. The area of the park may have originally been used, as its name suggests, as a cabbage patch, but this cannot be demonstrated on the basis of actual record. On the other hand, it was unlikely the entirety of the park was a large cabbage patch—such large vegetable farms are otherwise unknown in Themiclesia until later in history.

While other districts slowly regained their population after the war, it seems the area that would become Green Cabbage Green was persistently used as a vegetable garden by several major families of the vicinity. DUe to its altitude and slope, the land was well-drained and suited to crops like melons and grapes. These became its notorious products in the 16th century onwards and was the cause for its appointment as a supply of royal goods. Its use as a farm receded in the 18th century, when the surrounding area became built up. The locals often paid a fee to enter the park and more to purchase its products inside. Recreational facilities such as alehouses opened around its perimeter at that time.

Following the Settlement of 1801, Green Cabbage Green was no longer under royal appointment and became a public park with the agreement of the four families then owning the park. Very extensive landscaping occurred in 1829, creating the large fountain that still stands.

Post-war

Following the park's use as a meeting ground for the city's defence forces during the Battle of Kien-k'ang, the east side of the park became occupied by stockpiles and vehicles. The west side was used as temporary offices for the Commission for the Defence of the City, for which temporary buildings were erected. After the war officially ended in 1949, the stockpiles were cleared, and more temporary houses were builted to house up to 10,000 returning soldiers and some of their family. Enlisted rates were provided a shed-like house of just 11 m² (120 sq ft) of covered space if they had family; if not, they lived several heads to each shed.

While the govenrment worked to expand the availability of permanent houses in conjunction with the slum clearance effort which had been postponed due to the war, the government declared that rent would be collected from those living on the park starting from 1952. From about the same time, the city's citizens also formed the Public Committee for Restoration, whose principal aim was to restore the city to its pre-war functionality and appearance. Under this precept, the group placed pressure on the government to finish more suburban houses that similar tenements, scattered in the city's public places, could sooner be removed.

While other tenements of this kind had largely disappeared by the late 50s, the one in Green Cabbage Green saw both emigration and persistent immigration, and some families grew within this environment. Veterans were not automatically placed on the queue for discounted housing as some already had homes, and those living in Green Cabbage Green installed running water (tapped from wells) and privies with the acquiescence of the city, making the area more habitable than before. Eventually, street signs were erected in the narrow paths between microscopic houses, and even a community gathering hall appeared in 1958.

On the other hand, the Restoration Committee's stance on the defiantly non-shrinking Green Cabbage Green tenement grew increasingly aggressive by 1960. It called for the government to terminate their leases upon expiry to evict the area and revert it to a park. The City had full authority to deny extensions but was hesitant to do so. It was not previously forseen that people would voluntarily migrate into these tenements and indeed assumed they would voluntarily and naturally clear when better housing options were available.

With little action from the city, the Restoration Committee brought the matter to public attention in the council election of Feb. 1961, in which it is claimed that the Green Cabbage Green tenement was "unfit for humane habitation" and "a detriment and abomination to the peculiarity". Finally, in 1962, the Aldermen moved to evict the denizens of the park amidst outcry that some had lived there continually for 20 years. The clearing of the park was part of the Great Eviction of 1964, when the last five tenaments were demolished in the city and their residents resettled in the suburbs. The eviction process lasted merely three weeks, but the houses were left yet standing as the Parks Commission deliberated how to restore and improve the park.

Refugee camp

In a ironic turn for the City's plans to restore the park, the evacuation of refugees from Menghe created a sudden demand for temporary housing in Themiclesia. Though the Government had expected prepared some settlements for refugees it took since early 1963, when a communist takeover in Menghe looked increasingly likely, the number of refugees seeking passage dramatically exceeded projections. Under diplomatic pressure, Themiclesia found itself the eventual destination of half a million refugees. Under this most pressing need, the planned demolition was shelved again for re-allocation as a refugee camp. The chairperson of the committee called this re-allocation an "absurd deterioration in the current situation occasioned by irresponsible government".

The interminable inpouring of refugees led the City to declare itself unable to accommodate any more in January 1964, but the Cabinet passed an act of Parliament demanding the city to allocate room for another 42,000 refugees by March. The city then pitched tents and dug privies in Exchequer Palace (內大宮)—the seat of the Exchequer Department—and down New West Road (西新大朮), Kam-rem Road (甘林朮), and Household Boulevard (公禦朮), all prestigious streets, in protest to the central government. The main issue that prevented their dispersal was the unavailability of medication, work, and critical amenities in the countryside, for individuals arriving with minimal resource. Eventually, Kien-k'ang became the home of about 300,000 refugees—5% of the city's population—most of whom did not have a permanent place to live.

Reaction to the re-allocation was mixed. The Restoration Committee, now led by Dr. Trer, otherwise called the "bitterest man in Themiclesia" by The Times, accused the Government of reducing the desirability of the properties surrounding the parks and avenues now used as refugee camps. The Chancellor of the Exchequer retorted that Trer and his supporters would just have to hold onto their properties until the crisis abates. On the other hand, Major Nap, a long-time critic of the Government's inadequate veteran benefits policies, air-dropped "welcome" leaflets to the tenement's new residents:

To echo the Government's commitments to you and the nations, we the citizens of Kien-k'ang welcome all Mengheans, even those that invaded this country in 1936, seeking a safer place to live. You will be assured in this behalf & towards equitable treatment with the knowledge that we have evicted our own veterans from this place but two years ago.

Nap was imprisoned for three months for causing a gross public nuisance and fined $60 per leaflet dropped—an unpayable fine amounting to $500,000.