RIYADH: A three-year project to develop King Abdulaziz Park in the nation’s capital is underway following the completion of a design competition, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced on Wednesday.
The winning design was one of several presented by four international companies and once completed will cover about 4.3 million sq. meters. It comprises six distinct green spaces, the most prominent being the central Botanic Garden spanning 200,000 sq. meters and featuring more than 200 species of local plants.
Part of the Green Riyadh initiative, the new park will be built in the north of the city, close to King Khalid International Airport, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and a train station.
A key element of the design is the Munsiyah Tributary, a branch of the Al-Sulai valley, which runs for 11 km through the park. The design also includes sustainable commercial buildings and a 2 km pathway overlooking them.
More than 2 million trees and shrubs will be used to provide shade throughout the park, each of them served by an irrigation system using recycled water.
Khaled Al-Bakr, CEO of the Quality of Life Program. (Supplied)
As well as terraces, squares, open theaters for events and festivals, restaurants, the design includes 24 children’s areas and 30 sports zones.
Khaled Al-Bakr, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, said parks and other green spaces were vital to a good quality of life for the residents of any city.
“King Abdulaziz Park, King Salman Park and King Abdullah International Parks are among the major park projects in the city of Riyadh, which will enhance the humanization of the city of Riyadh and provide vast spaces for residents and visitors,” he told Arab News.
“Parks enable sports activities and provide recreational places for individuals and families, in addition to their environmental and climatic benefits.”
The parks development project, supported by the government, was helping to change the face of the city and achieve the goals of the Green Riyadh and Vision 2030 initiatives, he said.
Several other green spaces, including Al-Urubah, Al Munsiyah, Al Qadisiyah, and Al-Rimmal parks, and planting along main roads like King Salman Road and King Khalid Road are already underway.
An irrigation network spanning 1,350 km has also been developed to service the new parks.
