As temperatures plummet and the spring break ascends in the Kingdom, an increasing number of people flee to the freshly renovated North Jeddah Corniche in the hope of getting some family time and entertainment.
The North Jeddah Corniche, which received an extraordinary facelift, opened in December last year, boosting its latest additional amenities.
Recent reports stated that the renovations included new internal roads, an exclusive ramp for physically handicapped persons, 899 parking slots, a separate lane for joggers, playing facilities for small children and public toilets.
“The Corniche is always the best place to spend one’s leisure time,” says Md. Wasy, an Indian expat who praised the new face-lift of the Jeddah Corniche.
Wasy mentioned that he lives nearby the Corniche and usually goes there for long walks or jogs early in the mornings and at nightr. “I see there is a big change. It’s much cleaner and the air we will be breathing will be clean. I’m glad they decided to have a separate lane for joggers.”
Fawziya Irfan, mother of four year-old Umair, says that her family was never fond of visiting the Corniche area because of the lack of cleanliness. “A friend of mine suggested that I visit the recently renovated Corniche and that it was nothing like how it used to be. I went with my family recently and loved it.”
She adds that the cleanliness in Jeddah Corniche should be maintained and that authorities should take action against those responsible for littering and polluting the area.
On the other hand, many families are disappointed with the Jeddah Municipality’s ruling of disallowing barbequing and the use of fire or cooking utensils on the Corniche.
“After the renovation, everything about the Corniche looks just great but what’s disappointing is the prohibition of barbequing,” says Bashr Ishtar, a Syrian father who usually goes to the Corniche on the weekends with his family, with the main aim of enjoying preparing barbeque.
Ishtar says that barbequing is very famous in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. “We love to sit with family and friends and enjoy a good barbeque. I am really dissatisfied with their decision to remove such an activity in a public area. Since barbequing is the main reason we go there, my family isn’t very excited to visit the new Corniche anymore.”
“We are very upset that barbequing is not allowed in the new Corniche,” says Mays Ronald, .
Mays Ronald, a Filipino teenager who hangs out with his friends for barbeques at the Corniche, suggests that the Municipality instates an open area for barbequing for all those who want to cook their own food. “I think it will be a good idea because many of us who are regular visitors at the Corniche prefer doing barbeque, instead of buying food from outside.”
Recent reports stated that several visitors found a number of restaurants surrounding the Corniche to be hit with competitive prices, making it difficult for middle class families to enjoy their meals. As a result, many families prefer cooking or bringing food from outside to enjoy the meal at the Corniche instead.
New Jeddah Corniche attracts visitors during spring break
New Jeddah Corniche attracts visitors during spring break
