JEDDAH: A 'smart' open park in Jeddah meant for people with special needs are being thronged by those who are not entitled to use its facilities.
Al-Erada Park was opened nearly a year ago, offers free Wi-Fi and a playground with special specifications, a rubber walkway and especially equipped toilets for the use of disabled persons.
Many citizens, attracted by this highly equipped park, tend to bring their children to use those facilities trespassing the space, which is especially designed for the use of disabled people.
Those with special needs find it difficult to frequent their allocated park because healthy people are crowding them, a local publication reported.
Nora Mohsen, a mother of disabled child, expressed her resentment and displeasure at the fact that the park is crowded with healthy children who are not suffering any kind of disability.
“The parents of non-disabled children must take their children elsewhere; there are many other places they can go to without facing any obstacles in order to provide the chance for the disabled children to use the park,” she said.
The city has at least 335 parks for normal people, covering an area of more than half a million sq. mtrs.
Abdullah Al-Shahrani, a person with special needs, said: “The Park helped me and my other colleagues to make new friendships. We don’t come here for the games alone; instead, it's about seeing other people and participating in their activities and exercises.”
Abdullah Al-Najar, a father for two disabled children, said that the park has become the preferred choice of his children to play in: “I used to have great difficulty in finding a suitable place for their entertainment, but this park is specially built for them and they enjoy going there.”
Al-Erada is the first fully equipped park for people with special needs and offers them the opportunity to integrate better with other people, giving them confidence to participate and interact with their community.
With a capacity to accommodate about 150,000 people, the park is located to the north of Jeddah on Prince Sultan Street, and covers about 7,700 square meters. Of this, green spaces account for about 1200 square meters, and is accompanied by 1,600 trees, 30 palm trees, and 2000 shrubs and an automatic irrigation system. It is also equipped with 30 tables and children's play tools, 50 lighting poles and 3350 sq. mtrs. of asphalt. There is also a theater for educational and cultural shows.
Al-Erada Park was opened nearly a year ago, offers free Wi-Fi and a playground with special specifications, a rubber walkway and especially equipped toilets for the use of disabled persons.
Many citizens, attracted by this highly equipped park, tend to bring their children to use those facilities trespassing the space, which is especially designed for the use of disabled people.
Those with special needs find it difficult to frequent their allocated park because healthy people are crowding them, a local publication reported.
Nora Mohsen, a mother of disabled child, expressed her resentment and displeasure at the fact that the park is crowded with healthy children who are not suffering any kind of disability.
“The parents of non-disabled children must take their children elsewhere; there are many other places they can go to without facing any obstacles in order to provide the chance for the disabled children to use the park,” she said.
The city has at least 335 parks for normal people, covering an area of more than half a million sq. mtrs.
Abdullah Al-Shahrani, a person with special needs, said: “The Park helped me and my other colleagues to make new friendships. We don’t come here for the games alone; instead, it's about seeing other people and participating in their activities and exercises.”
Abdullah Al-Najar, a father for two disabled children, said that the park has become the preferred choice of his children to play in: “I used to have great difficulty in finding a suitable place for their entertainment, but this park is specially built for them and they enjoy going there.”
Al-Erada is the first fully equipped park for people with special needs and offers them the opportunity to integrate better with other people, giving them confidence to participate and interact with their community.
With a capacity to accommodate about 150,000 people, the park is located to the north of Jeddah on Prince Sultan Street, and covers about 7,700 square meters. Of this, green spaces account for about 1200 square meters, and is accompanied by 1,600 trees, 30 palm trees, and 2000 shrubs and an automatic irrigation system. It is also equipped with 30 tables and children's play tools, 50 lighting poles and 3350 sq. mtrs. of asphalt. There is also a theater for educational and cultural shows.
