Riyadh to offer easy access to high-quality green space

RIYADH: In a major move to promote public health by providing easy access to high-quality green space and recreation, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar inaugurated 10 environmental and recreational projects here Monday evening.

These new projects will cover an area of more than 150,000 square meters in different districts of the Saudi capital.
“The plan to build 10 new parks comes in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who has been taking a personal interest in improving the richness, connectivity and biodiversity of Riyadh habitats,” said Prince Faisal, after inaugurating the projects here. He said that King Salman had been instrumental in making Riyadh a world-class city with affordable housing, good health and civic amenities.
Prince Faisal said that “the Saudi government is committed to providing all services and amenities to citizens and expatriates living in Saudi Arabia.” The new public parks will have enough green space, which will eventually help in improving the air and water quality of the city, besides offering space for children and their families for fun and play.
Not only this, he said that a number of projects will be rolled out through strategic programs under the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the agency responsible for the socioeconomic, cultural and environmental development of the city. The ADA has a master plan which was drafted in collaboration with other organizations and includes the rehabilitation of several areas including Wadi Hanifah, Silay Valley and Al Hair Lakes on the outskirts of Riyadh.
The master plan has provisions earmarking and building 100 municipal parks throughout the city including the construction of pedestrian walkways. Other projects will span the health, education, housing and utility sectors, which, alongside initiatives relating to trade, commerce, leisure and tourism.
This is in addition to the prestigious iconic King Salman Park, near King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh, which was inaugurated by Prince Bandar early this year. The park, which occupies 3.4 million square meters of land, has been designed by the planners with huge green spaces and entertainment areas especially catering to the recreational needs of families. The park was planned by King Salman, when he was Riyadh governor and chairman of the ADA.