Phuket Town ‘Prison Park’ project continues, opening targeted for mid-2026

Construction and landscaping are continuing at the former Phuket Provincial Prison site on Damrong Road, with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation saying the project remains on track and is expected to open by mid-2026 if there are no further delays.

The redevelopment will turn the former prison grounds into one of the largest new green spaces in central Phuket Town. Officials said the project is intended to serve as a recreational park, community activity area and historical learning centre for residents and visitors.

The PPAO has said the completed park is expected to improve quality of life for Phuket Town residents while also supporting the island’s image as a tourism destination over the long term. Previous updates by PPAO President Rewat Areerob described the project as a new “lung” for the town, offering space for exercise, leisure and tourism.

The site was occupied by the old Phuket Provincial Prison for more than 120 years before it was demolished in late 2022. According to the source, the prison was originally built in 1901 during the governorship of Phraya Ratsadanupradit, making it one of Thailand’s oldest prisons before demolition.

Planned features for the new park include a pagoda to house Buddhist relics, a multi-purpose building, pavilions, children’s playgrounds, scenic viewpoints, public restrooms and parking intended to help ease congestion in the busy Phuket Town area.

Construction officially began in December 2024 under a contract worth B165.8 million awarded to Bangkok-based SPM 5988 Co Ltd. The overall project covers about 540 days, with completion originally scheduled for June 11 this year.

The conversion of the prison site has been discussed for more than a decade, following approval for a new provincial prison in Srisoonthorn, Thalang. That new prison opened in December 2020, allowing the old site to be repurposed. Demolition of the prison walls began in November 2022 after the Treasury Department approved the land for use as a public park.

Officials have said the redevelopment is intended to preserve elements of the site’s history while creating a modern eco-tourism attraction and public learning centre in central Phuket Town.