Mushrif Central Park in Abu Dhabi is scheduled to re-open early next year with many extra features. Renovations are now in the final stages.
Previously known as Mushrif Park, the recreational area first opened to visitors in 1982. It is one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the city and was open to women and children only. In January last year, the park was closed for redevelopment. At the time, more than 150,000 people visited the park annually.
When it re-opens – it has not yet been revealed if it will again be for women and children only – the 14.5-hectare park will feature 300 seasonal flowers and 258 ornamental trees, including 133 palms. There will be nearly 35,000 square metres of walkways.
More than 10 per cent of the overall park has been re-vegetated with indigenous and naturalised species. Use of reclaimed grey water will save up to 40 per cent of consumption.
There will also be a dedicated area for a children's zoo and education programmes and services will allow it to be interactive.
A new children's garden will feature age-appropriate, improved play areas. There will also be an exclusive space for private functions to accommodate up to 100 people with catering services available.
The park will have a performing arts venue, equipped with facilities to support outdoor concerts and other activities. There will be a weekly souk on Fridays.
Rana Ahmed, 43, a mother of two, said: "It was kind of a must weekly outing for my children. Not just that, I made lots of friends there. But when the park closed for renovation, we missed it terribly.”
In Dubai, the municipality plans to build 27 new parks with a budget of Dh145 million.
Abdullah Rafie, the municipality's assistant director general for architecture and planning, told Al Ittihad, the Arabic language sister paper of The National, that as part of Dubai's Urban Plan 2020, more than 3,000 hectares around the emirate will be dedicated to new parks and walkways.