New Dubai park gets green light

A new public park to be created in Dubailand will cover 1.4 million square metres, increasing by 17 per cent the public space areas in Dubai.
The first phase of construction, covering 318,000 sqm, will start this year, Dubai Media Office said on Saturday.
The finished park will have 30 kilometres of pathways, 20km of jogging track, more than 14km of cycle tracks and 7km of nature trails.
There will be 55 playgrounds, 45 sports grounds, five major events areas and space for shops, restaurants and cafes.
Under directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Holding signed an agreement with Dubai Municipality to develop the largest public park in Dubai.
The aim of the initiative is to help raise the fitness levels of Dubai residents and consolidate Dubai’s position as one of the happiest cities in the world.
The municipality aims to achieve a density of 12.5 square metres of green space for each person in accordance with the highest international standards.
Another aim of the park is to improve the air quality of the surrounding areas, facilitate the preservation of existing biodiversity and create an opportunity to enhance the urban ecology.
"The provision of green, open spaces play a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life among residents," said Ahmad bin Byat, vice chairman and managing director of Dubai Holding.
"Every major city, including New York, London and Singapore, has an iconic park that reflects its cultural and social identity."
In addition to being a sports and entertainment destination, the park will provide a platform for innovation and smart-solutions, including sustainable on-site power generation, waste recycling and natural shading.
It will also have smart cards for ticketing, purchasing and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The area will also be home to up to 15,000 trees of native and adopted species.

Source: The National