JEDDAH, 4 June 2008 — Advocates for more public outdoor space in Jeddah have announced that the city is planning three major parks: the 30,000-square meter Princess Amira Public Park in Al-Nuzla; Al-Baik Park in Al-Khalediyah (1,200 square meters); and Al-Safa Park in Al-Safa district (5,000 square meters).
At a ceremony held recently at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Friends of Jeddah Parks Society Chairman Mohammed Fayez stressed on the importance of the role the private sector can play in collaboration with the municipalities to increase the green spaces available in the city.
“The parks represent a cultural identity for any city around the world,” he said.
“The interest in establishing parks is reflected by the spirit of cooperation between public agencies and the citizens, particularly those who benefit from the parks, and the increased awareness of citizens to preserve public utilities, which are the property of all. The effective participation of all parties will further enhance the development of the community,” Fayez said.
The Friends of Jeddah Parks Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the establishment and designing of parks and recreational places inside residential neighborhoods.
One of the first parks to be built by the Society was Faisal Sport Park located at Al-Nuzla district on an area of 10,000 square meters.
The Society has benefited from past experiences in the process of establishing parks by creating the necessary mechanisms that would ensure continuity in maintaining these parks through several ways, including communicating with Jeddah Municipality and signing of binding contracts for the upkeep of the parks.
