Works on five new residential parks to begin next month

Of these, projects worth Dhs48 million have recently been approved Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality. The remaining projects would be approved by the civic body's chairman shortly.

Announcing this, Essa Al Maidour, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for General Projects Affairs, said these projects come as part of the civic body's plan to green eight per cent of the city's urban areas.

He noted that the five residential parks would include three in Al Barsha area, one in Mirdif and a pond park in Al Nahda.

"These parks would include a lot of greenery, shaded areas, resting places, jogging tracks, walkways, and playgrounds for football, basketball, tennis and volleyball. They will offer residents of these areas a place to unwind after a hard day's job," Al Maidour said.

He added that the municipality would set up some 18 new community facilities, in addition to enhancing 17 existing facilities. With an overall area of 28 hectors, each of these facilities would include children's play grounds, walkways, and public playfields for football, volleyball and basketball. They will serve crowded residential areas like Al Manara, Al Safa, Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha, Al Qouz, Abu Hail, Jumeira, Al Wasl, Al Beda', Al Jafiliyya, Al Mankhool, Al Muraqabat, Al Towar, Al Qusais, Nad Al Hamar, Al Rashidiya, Al Mizhar, Al Khawaneej, Al Hebab, and Nad Al Shema.

The four jogging tracks planned by Dubai Municipality would be set up inside the existing parks in Al Towar 2, Al Towar 1, Creekside Park and Ned Al Shama Park.

He said the municipality had a long-term plan to enlarge green areas and to add different kinds of plants, trees and flowers.

"We are trying to offer the best services to the public and constructing these parks would help keep children away from playing on roads and endangering their lives," he said.