Mansoura district outside the city center hosts a number of recreational facilities. The most popular among them is Mansoura Park which begins to draw visitors from the late afternoon or early evening.

The visitors are mainly from Mansoura itself and the adjoining areas like Kansalilah. The park is popular for its large open space and visitors like to spend a pleasant and quiet evening as a family, particularly during these hot summer days.

“My wife and I often come here with our three small children to spend some quality time as a family,” said Yahya Mohammed Abdalli, a Saudi.

An employee of the Saudi Credit & Savings Bank, Abdalli said that he hopes that his three boys, Kabeer Mohammad, Sagir Hamad, and Majid will learn what it is to be a family and be just as close when they grow up.

“We want them to be appreciate the sense of family and imbue love for each other in addition to education so that they will remember us for what we have given them when we are no longer with them,” he said.

He added that his family lives in another district not too far away and that they go to the park thrice a week.

Mohd. Haider Baksht, a Pakistani, said that he and his family live in another district but they visit Mansoura district for their peace of mind. “The date palms and the green trees in the park make for a peaceful atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” he said.

“One feels relieved from the problems at home and in the office when one comes to the park. There is no hurry to accomplish anything and it is also very relaxing to see other families enjoying each other’s company,” Baksht added.

He informed that the park was old but the municipality was maintaining it. He hoped that it would continue to do so and that visitors would keep it clean not for themselves but also as a sign of respect to others who come to enjoy some quiet moments in the park.

“It’s not surprising to see some visitors just lying on the grass looking up at the dark sky with the twinkling stars in the distance,” he added.

However, it’s not only families who come to the park but also residents who want to pursue a health lifestyle.

Ammar Al Marri, 25 who works for the Saudi air force, said that he and his friends go to the park to jog three times to keep themselves physically fit.

“I jog around the park two or three times until I’m sweating profusely. I have been doing it for many years now to keep myself in shape,” he said, adding that his work in the Saudi air force requires it.

Rushdie Al-Haddad, 24, added that he also jogs in the park regularly along with his friends. He works at an electronics company.

“At first, I jogged because I saw others doing it but I now realize that they were doing it for a purpose, which is to keep fit,” he said.

Senior citizens and retirees also visit the park for physical fitness.

“When I was young, I did not bother to come here, thinking that I was already tired at work. But as I walk into the sunset of life, I now feel the need to walk every other day to burn excess fat and feel better,” said a Saudi who requested anonymity.

He added that walking and jogging are excellent exercises and advised parents to inculcate the habit in their children while they are still young.