Dhahi Khalfan: DM parks enhance emirate's security infrastructure

7 parks opened during Plantation Week

Dhahi Khalfan: DM parks enhance emirate's security infrastructure

Lt. Col. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police on Wednesday opened the newly built Al Nahda Pond Park in the presence of Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality and a number of officials from the Municipality and the Police.

He said that the creation of parks in residential neighbourhoods and managing them well become good aspects of social development of special nature due to its direct association with the service and the development of family life and the development of environment and residential communities.

"In this sense, projects like this undertaken by Dubai Municipality strengthen the security infrastructure of the Emirate of Dubai in all respects. Creation of public parks of this advanced level of design and implementation is one of the complementary and necessary elements to achieve the strategic objectives of Dubai Police," said Tamim.

He praised the approach taken by Dubai Municipality in the establishment of such extensive parks with all amenities, ponds, green spaces, walkways, pools and flowers of every colour.

Brigadier Mohammad Saeed Al Marri, Deputy Director of Community Services Department, Dubai Police said his department has long been maintaining a close relationship with the Municipality parks in different areas of the emirate for its role in the implementation of police programmes to connect with the community and the dissemination of awareness and security programmes or community service.

Eng. Hussein Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality said that Dubai is a modern city that races against time in development and growth with an accelerated pace, which is reverberated around the world, thanks to the good governance and wise visions for the future to make Dubai the city of business and tourism.

"Dubai Municipality has been enjoying the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and the continuous follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality," he said.

"The Municipality by virtue of its mandated responsibilities offers many services related to the environment and the community and establishes integrated infrastructure facilities at par with the finest cities in the world through its vision to build a modern city which offers the ingredients for success. The concerted efforts of various government departments and public and private establishments have contributed in the making of a closely coordinated innovative and cooperative system," Lootah said, adding that the Municipality is keen on planning and monitoring of construction, including adding an element of architectural luxury and aesthetic appearance to this developed city.

"The greening of the city and plantation is one of the elements of the Emirate of Dubai and the beautiful appearance does not remain so without the attention with horticultural maintenance programmes and integrated care for the city's green spaces to ensure its continued greenery and glory and long life. That is what Dubai Municipality has taken up, to give the maximum attention and monitoring to ensure the success of financial budgets, and balance with population and urban growth," he said.

"Dubai Municipality strives to maintain and promote the spreading of green areas in Dubai and the provision of resorts, public parks and recreational facilities with the best design specifications and operate them according to the best international practices to the needs and expectations of the society and in all areas of the Emirate of Dubai," Lootah said.

He recalled that in the production of saplings the Municipality has been able to develop the productivity of its nursery in recent years by adopting the best scientific methods in the field of plant augmentation through its nurseries at Garhoud, Nad Al Shiba, Mushrif, Al Safa, Al Mamzar, Sih Al Silm and Warsan with production of more than 33.8 million saplings in 2009.

Lootah added that in the establishment of public parks and recreational facilities the Municipality has taken huge strides as there are now 42 parks that include big parks, neighbourhood parks and the parks in the middle of the city, 49 popular squares in addition to recreational beaches.

"Dubai Municipality is keen to hold many events and recreational and entertainment activities throughout the year and in 2009 the six major parks in Dubai (Mushrif, Safa, Mamzar, Creek, Jumeirah Beach, Zabeel) managed to attract about 5.7 million visitors while the number of zoo visitors stood at 327,000. The parks and recreation sector witnessed considerable development over the past three years in terms of developing existing parks and upgrading their facilities and adding new facilities," he said.

Lootah stressed that as far as greening projects and tree planting and beautifying the streets, the city is taking huge steps consistent with the aspirations of the Municipality in this area.

He said 25 to 35 such projects are implemented annually and landscaping designs that are used are compatible with the nature of these streets, as the streets in the markets differ in designs for residential streets the external roads that link the city to other cities.

Al Nahda Pond Park is one of the most important theme parks built in the Emirate of Dubai in the recent period. The park is the first entertainment facility in Al Nahda area, which is the newest urban residential areas in the Emirate of Dubai located near the border of the Emirate of Sharjah. It was built at a cost of about Dhs22 million at a total area of about 14.6 hectares. The park is characterized with a large water area as the total area of the pond stretches to 80,000 square metres, which represents 54.4% of the total area of the park.

The new Garhoud Park was inaugurated on Thursday by Obaid Salem Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for International Affairs and Partnerships.

Eng. Essa Al Maidour, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Engineering and Planning Sector on Wednesday opened the Al Qusais-2 Residential Park in the presence of Ahmed AbdulKarim, Director of Public Parks and Horticulture Department, engineers and heads of sections from the department as well as from the Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Sewage Network Department.

The 10,884 square metres Al Qusais-2 Residential Park was constructed at a cost of Dhs7.845 million to provide recreational services to residents and families of Al Qusais-2 area. The project involves many leisure facilities such as children's play areas for different age groups, jogging track at a length of 322 metres, various courts at an area of 1,150 square metres, cafeteria and restrooms.

The Plantation Week activities of Dubai Municipality, which was inaugurated on Sunday by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, who opened the Pond Park at Al Barsha, saw the opening of seven public parks. On Monday Eng. Mohammed AbdulKarim Julfar, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Corporate Support Services inaugurated Al Quoz Pond Park. The Al Sufooh Residential Park and Al Qusais-3 Pond Park were opened by Eng. Abdullah Raffia, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for General Support Services Sector on Tuesday.

Photos: Lt. Col. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim after inaugurating Al Nahda Pond Park.