Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Raje Park is a public park situated in Dadar, Mumbai. It is the largest park in the island city. Like the Azad Maidan and August Kranti Maidan (formerly Gowalia Tank Grounds), it is of historical and cultural value because of the political and social gatherings it has witnessed, both in pre- and post-independence Mumbai. The 113,000 square metres (28 acres) open space is renowned as the cradle of Indian cricket. Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Raje Park is considered as a platform of opportunities for athletes and sportsperson to excel in their sports career. Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Raje Park has nets for cricket, court for tennis, ground for Mallakhamba, football and many more.

The open ground or Maidan is flanked around its edge by a katta, a simple continuous low kerb edging that forms a makeshift seat, a popular hangout for young and old alike.^[1] The paved walkway around this perimeter is crowded with people taking walks. The inner circumference of the park is 1.17 kilometres (0.73 mi). The maidan covers 112,937 square metres (27.907 acres), more than half of which is occupied by 31 tenants, the largest being clubs like the Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park Gymkhana, and the Bengal Club. the remaining part of the ground and open spaces are available to the public for sports and other activities.^[2] Other structures dotting the periphery of the grounds include the Samarth Vyayam Mandir (gymnasium), Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park Nagarik Sangh (established in 1947), a children's Park, Nana-Nani Park ( park for senior citizens), Scout's Pavilion, a Ganesh temple and a library. The walkway is lined with huge rain trees.

The most prominent entrance to the park is the one on the east side, intended only for pedestrians. A bust of Meenatai Thackeray, late wife of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray, has been placed at this entrance. Previously a bust of Ram Ganesh Gadkari was present at the same spot. Bal Thackeray himself was cremated here.^[3][4][5]

The park was created in 1925 by the Bombay Municipal Corporation, during the British Rule. The ground was known as the Mahim Park till 1927, when it was named after the legendary 17th century warrior king of the region, Chhatrapati Shivaji at the behest of a municipal councillor, Avantika Gohkale.^[6] The Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park Gymkhana, then known as the Dadar Hindu Gymkhana, opened its first Tennis court on the grounds in 1927 and inaugurated its pavilion in November 1931.^[7]

Besides being a venue for gatherings of freedom fighters in British India, after independence in 1947, Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park was the focal point of the Samyukta Maharashtra Chalval (the struggle for a consolidated Maharashtra) that led to the present Maharashtra state being formed in 1960. During this period, the legendary writer, journalist, playwright, poet and social leader Acharya Prahlad Keshav Atre led this movement, addressing crowds of lakhs at this ground, earning him the title of "Lord of Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park". Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park has been integral to the political gatherings of the local party Shiv Sena, and has witnessed numerous other political rallies. In May 2010, the Bombay High Court declared the ground as a silence zone after residents filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in September 2009, complaining about the sound pollution in the area on account of the political rallies.^[8]

The statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, place on the western side of the park is one of the very few statues in which Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is depicted without having drawn out his sword. Instead, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is shown simply leading the way with his arm outstretched. Created in 1966 using donations from the local population, the statue is a rare example of the pacifist policies of the then state government of Maharashtra. It was considered a sensitive issue by the government to let this statue depict the usual confrontational posture of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who had fought many battles against the Mughal Empire.^{[citation needed]}

Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park maidan is renowned as the cradle of Indian cricket. It is home to eight cricket clubs like those of the late Anna Vaidya and Ramakant Acharekar, which have produced several international cricketers for India. Some famous names who have trained here are Sachin Tendulkar,^[9] Sunil Gavaskar, Ajit Wadekar, Suhas Gupte, Vijay Manjrekar, Ramakant Desai, Balu Gupte, M.S. Patil, Dilip Sardesai, Ashok Wadekar, Padmakar Shivalkar, Eknath Solkar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Chandrakant Pandit, Lalchand Rajput, Sandeep Patil, Ajit Agarkar, Pravin Amre, Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjrekar. It is a feeder park to Ramnarain Ruia College and Poddar College in nearby Matunga.^[10]

Cricket may be the reason Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park is famous for, but few of the city's budding talent also practice their football here including teams like Adarsh FC, Dadar XI, Dias united Sports Club, Kenkre, BEARS FC, VAKYPPS FC, etc.

The area surrounding the park has many buildings dating back to the mid-1900s, and the Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park Residential Zone is some of the more sought-after and expensive real estate in Mumbai.^{[citation needed]} This predominantly Marathi neighbourhood is home to many well-known personalities from literature, theatre, commerce and sports.

Some of its prominent residents are

• Manohar Joshi - Prominent Shiv Sena leader, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Lok Sabha Speaker
• Raj Thackeray - Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supremo
• Anup Jalota - Bhajan singer
• Milind Soman - Super model
• Sunil Prabhu - Mayor of Mumbai
• Ajit Agarkar - former Indian cricketer
• Ajit Wadekar - former Indian cricketer and captain
• Sandeep Patil - former Indian cricketer
• Dada Kondke - Film producer

• Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park Residential Zone

• Satellite view of Chhatrapati Shrimant Shri Shivaji Maharaj Park
• http://www.mumbaikar.com/en/directory/listing/shivaji-park-dadar-w.html