ALKHOBAR: Away from the congestion of malls and restaurants, many Saudi families go to public parks for breakfast in the early hours of the morning, where they enjoy direct contact with nature and a cleaner environment.

Because of this, great efforts are made by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) and Eastern Province Municipality to upgrade public park services and establish new parks to meet the needs of citizens and visitors.

However, some citizens have complained about the poor behavior of some irresponsible visitors and young people, including their tendencies to dump waste anywhere and write graffiti on walls.

Regarding the breakfast in the parks, some people believe that this new habit is related to the unease found among young people and even children as they tend to stay up all night and sleep in the afternoons.

Badriah Ayed said: “Young people’s wakefulness habit encourages them to go out early in the morning to have breakfast in the parks,” stressing that this provides health benefits and opportunities to enhance their fitness.

Nouf Mohie, a married woman in Alkhobar, said that she went to the neighborhood park several times, accompanied by her husband and children for breakfast there in the early morning to enjoy tranquility and have fun, confirming that it was very positive experience.

She said that her family values the time they spend in the park as the weather is cool. At this time, they are able to enjoy popular dishes, especially as the new parks are equipped with all the required services and are open throughout the day, explaining that she prefers not to go to restaurants due to their unreasonable costs and overcrowding.

This summer trend is not limited to families only, but includes young people as well. Salma Al-Qahtani, a young woman, believes that being in public parks is equated with comfortableness for individuals and families who are able to bring their desired food with them.

She said that public parks have received great interest from the concerned authorities in recent times, which includes ongoing follow-up and control, facilities' maintenance, and cleanliness, adding that parks are often equipped with cafes, resting and sitting areas, and specialized lanes for walking.