Pond Park to be set up in Al Qusais 3

Final designs for the parks have been approved by the civic body and the works will begin very soon. The park is expected to be ready by end of March 2008, said Mohammed Hassan Al Ali, Head of Projects Designs Section at the General Projects Department of the municipality.

He said at least more such parks are planned in various parts of the emirate including Al Barsha, An-Nahda and Al Quoz. The "Pond Parks" are being designed to turn vast areas around storm-water collection ponds into recreational areas where the residents can relax unwind. Private investors will be invited to operate facilities in the 'pond park' including boating, internet cafes, restaurants, games and other entertainment facilities. The Municipality will maintain the park but their facilities will be outsourced.

Al Ali said the Al Qusais Pond Park, with a total area of 17 hectors, will have three segments with the first one called as the "pond area" which will consist of a 2-kilometer long and 3-meter wide jogging track around the pond, ticket-counter to enter games and facilities area, and shaded sitting areas. The pond will be fenced so as to ensure safety of the visitors, especially children. Colourful water fountains will be set up inside the pond, and there will be colourful lighting in and around the park area to give an aesthetic ambience.

The second segment will be the main park area that will consist of separate play areas for children in the age groups of 2-5 years and 6-12 years. There will be walkways and shaded sitting areas in this segment. Another important feature in this area will be a 3-meter high slope area which offers a nice view of the pond and which can be used for holding special ceremonies including student picnics. There will be a 1.4 km long jogging track in this section as well that can be used by students and others to organise race contests. Various types of trees, plants, seasonal flowers, grass and groundcovers will be used to green this section, Al Ali explained.

The third segment is a fenced play-ground for adults, which consists of a grass playground and a sandy playground for football, two tennis courts, a basketball ground and a beach volleyball ground.

Dubai Municipality's Strategic Plan for 2007-2011 seeks to increase the per capita green area to 23.4 square meter and the cultivated land in urban areas of Dubai to 3.15 per cent by 2011.