Riyadh residents find relief in Exit 10 park

For many residents of the Saudi capital city, the King Abdullah Road, or Exit 10, is a favorite destination in the late afternoon or at night if the weather is favorable.
Along the road near the intersection of King Abdullah and King Abdulaziz roads is an area that has been converted into a park. It is conveniently located near the Sahara Mall which also draws a lot of customers.
The place is decked out with date trees that bear fruit in season, neatly manicured green grass and concrete benches where the visitors can sit down to watch passers-by or the cars on King Abdullah Road.
The park is frequented by residents of all nationalities, Saudis and expatriates alike and across all age groups. It’s not uncommon to see whole families passing their time together.
Since the place is well-lit at night, the atmosphere is euphoric and festive.
“My family and I are here for a change. Sometimes we visit the parks or go to a peaceful place carrying our food and
have a picnic,” said a Saudi who is a government employee and was enjoying the park with his wife and four children: Three boys and a girl. “Meeting other people of different races or nationalities is an education in itself for one’s growing children as they learn how to interact with them,” he added.
Mike Pacheco, a Filipino design engineer at Nidad Real Estate, shared the same view, saying that he and his family had been visiting different parks, in addition to malls.
“My wife and I are here tonight mainly for our six young children. Knowing about different places like parks is a kind of education for them,” he said.
Others go to the park to jog such as Otaibi Mishal, a 26-year-old Saudi who works as a laboratory technician at a local hospital.
Mishal said, “I come here almost every day. Sometimes, after office hours in the afternoon, when the sun’s heat has subsided and sometimes at night after I have rested for a while.”
“I feel rejuvenated and very strong after jogging. I can also think more clearly as opposed to when I have no exercise at all,” he said.
Cenon C. Sagadal, an RCBC-Telemoney marketing representative, said: “I normally jog near my accommodation in Suleimania area but I decided to come here tonight for a change. The place is beautiful and everyone looks so friendly.”
He said there had been instances in the past when he had invited other friends to join him for jogging in the area. Middle-aged and senior citizens also go there for brisk walks to keep themselves physically fit.
“I’m in my 50’s now and I feel the need to do brisk walking for 20-30 minutes. If I go to the gym, which is quite expensive, I’d feel bored. But here, there’s so much to see as you walk,” Muhammed Haider, a Pakistani, said.
If he’s tired he said he can rest and strike up a conversation with others who are also resting and in the mood for meeting new acquaintances.