Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar recently inaugurated six parks in the capital city. These parks are a beautiful addition to the existing greenbelts in Riyadh. All these projects are adding to the beauty of the capital city.
It is important to focus on such projects, as parks and greenbelts in cities not only beautify the urban landscape but they also serve as natural filters and help control air pollution. These parks are a gift to the people of Riyadh from the government. Since the inauguration of the beautiful King Abdullah in Al-Malaz neighborhood, we have repeatedly called on the authorities to form a supervisory authority to protect these parks from the destructive behavior of visitors.
By forming an authority, we don’t mean deployment of guards at the gates or to look after the assets of the parks but they should check the careless conduct of people and to educate the masses in this regard.
These parks are not cost-free and they didn’t come into existence out of the nowhere, the government has invested lots of funds in these projects.
In all civilized countries, public parks are treated with respect. But the situation in our country is completely chaotic. There are some people who go to the park as if they are entering prairies. They sit wherever they wish, cook and eat and leave with garbage strewn all around. Some people often leave their children unattended. Others even enforce their own rules by forbidding other families from coming near the area where they are “camping” as if it is their personal property. In some parks, you can see some people enjoying their barbecues and shishas in a disgusting manner, while others park their cars haphazardly.
Such behavior makes a visit to a park a risky adventure. It goes without saying that some action is necessary to check the situation and force people to follow rules and regulations. Unfortunately, there are some people who misunderstand the true meanings of freedom. They don’t understand the simple principle that “your freedom ends where other people’s freedom begins.” Therefore, these unwanted behavior will not be corrected by awareness and education only, but by enforcing rules through executive supervisory authorities.
This will not be an easy task in the beginning. There will be some protests and criticism, but in the long run people will abide by the rules once they face punishments and fines. Those who will be unhappy with these regulations will have to find for them an open space outside Riyadh to enjoy their “freedom” as they wish, but not inside our parks.
It is important to focus on such projects, as parks and greenbelts in cities not only beautify the urban landscape but they also serve as natural filters and help control air pollution. These parks are a gift to the people of Riyadh from the government. Since the inauguration of the beautiful King Abdullah in Al-Malaz neighborhood, we have repeatedly called on the authorities to form a supervisory authority to protect these parks from the destructive behavior of visitors.
By forming an authority, we don’t mean deployment of guards at the gates or to look after the assets of the parks but they should check the careless conduct of people and to educate the masses in this regard.
These parks are not cost-free and they didn’t come into existence out of the nowhere, the government has invested lots of funds in these projects.
In all civilized countries, public parks are treated with respect. But the situation in our country is completely chaotic. There are some people who go to the park as if they are entering prairies. They sit wherever they wish, cook and eat and leave with garbage strewn all around. Some people often leave their children unattended. Others even enforce their own rules by forbidding other families from coming near the area where they are “camping” as if it is their personal property. In some parks, you can see some people enjoying their barbecues and shishas in a disgusting manner, while others park their cars haphazardly.
Such behavior makes a visit to a park a risky adventure. It goes without saying that some action is necessary to check the situation and force people to follow rules and regulations. Unfortunately, there are some people who misunderstand the true meanings of freedom. They don’t understand the simple principle that “your freedom ends where other people’s freedom begins.” Therefore, these unwanted behavior will not be corrected by awareness and education only, but by enforcing rules through executive supervisory authorities.
This will not be an easy task in the beginning. There will be some protests and criticism, but in the long run people will abide by the rules once they face punishments and fines. Those who will be unhappy with these regulations will have to find for them an open space outside Riyadh to enjoy their “freedom” as they wish, but not inside our parks.
