Qatar is implementing several projects to build public parks within residential neighbourhoods across Qatar.

The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar has announced the start of the implementation of several projects to build public parks within residential neighbourhoods across Qatar, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

According to the Secretary of the Committee, Engineer Amna Al Bader, the design and implementation of the neighbourhoods parks, which are known as Al Furjan Parks, comes within the strategic plan that aims to humanise cities and change a car-centric culture to a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly culture. 

Al Furjan Parks are similar to Al Furjan Markets, which is an innovative commercial concept launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2013. The project aims to eliminate traffic congestion in Doha by bringing important businesses like grocery stores, laundry, bakeries, banking services, pharmacies, and other important outlets in one place within neighbourhoods. Al Furjan is the Khaleeji word for neighbourhoods. It originates from Fereej or Freej, which is neighbourhood.

Similarly, the committee’s Al Furjan Parks aim to serve residents of specific neighbourhoods, in addition to creating green plazas in various locations to help protect the environment by reducing transportation footprint. It also aims to create more green spaces and recreational spaces, and plazas that contribute to encouraging families to lead a healthy lifestyle and practice sports from nearby enjoyable destinations just outside their door. 

Serving as a breather for many residential neighbourhoods, the parks are designed to be close to homes, easily reachable by pedestrians or cyclists, which encourage people in the neighbourhood to visit them regularly and spend quality time in a healthy and safe environment, and enhance social gatherings and communication.

Creating greener spaces within cities contribute to enhanced sustainability of environmental development in line with the fourth pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to manage the environment in a way that ensures harmony and consistency between economic and social development and environmental protection, and to achieve the required balance between them.

According to the Climate Change Department Director at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Abdulhadi Al Marri, the ministry has allocated a number of lands across Qatar for Al Furjan Parks to expand the construction of parks, planting of trees and increasing green spaces within the strategic plan, considering its impact on preserving the environment. These parks contribute to improve weather conditions, reduce pollution and lower temperatures during different periods of the year.

Al Furjan Parks have a key role in purifying the atmosphere and limiting the effects of climate change. The parks will also contribute in protecting the neighbourhood from dust, which will reflect positively on the health and safety of people.

The Public Parks Department is making extensive efforts to equip all public parks in the country with plant species and trees that are adapted to the local climate and environment conditions, and they are carefully planted in the parks so that they consume small quantities of water.  

The committee is designing Al Furjan Parks to include many features that make it an enjoyable destination for all family members, including children, the elderly and people with special needs. These features and services vary according to the area of the park, such as pedestrian and cyclist paths and seats. Some parks will include children’s play areas, fitness equipment, kiosks and other facilities. 

The committee is currently working on the implementation of designs of three parks in a total area of about 42,000 sq m. Two of these parks are located in Al Rayyan Municipality, including Al Soudan Park in an area of 2,300 sq m, which is planned to open in the second quarter of 2022, and Fereej Al Thameed Park to be built on 15,750 sq m. The third park is located in Doha Municipality at Hazm Al Markhiya is to be built on an area of 24,340 sq m and two of these three parks are scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2022. 

The design implementation of several parks along a total area of 34,553 sq m is under way, including Al Thumama Park in Doha Municipality, Al Wajba Park in Al Rayyan Municipality and three parks in Al Wakra Municipality.

These projects are expected to open to the public in the second quarter of 2022, except Al Wajba Park, which is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2022.

In regards to the two Al Furjan Parks in Al Rayyan Municipality, Rawdat Egdaim and Al Mearad, they are scheduled to open in Q3 of 2022. The first park is to be built on an area of about 24,000 sq m, while the second is to be built on an area of 3,520 sq m. 

Other parks in Al Rayyan Municipality including Bu Hamour Park (5,800 sq m), Al Sailiya Park (6,370 sq m), and Al Muraikh Park (3,640 sq m) are scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2022. 

Recently, the Supervisory Committee implemented many central parks and plazas including 5/6 Park, Al Daayen Park, Al Shura Plaza, Post Office Plaza and other projects that contribute to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the areas, improve climate and preserve the environment. 

The committee works to enhance sustainability through minimising environmental pollution, reducing emission of CO2 through minimised consumption and conservation of energy resources. It also works for the provision of a healthy environment within residential neighbourhoods and places of public gatherings through increased afforestation and landscaping, which will greatly help in reducing the temperature in the country.​


Air-conditioned parks

According to the Head of Public Projects Department at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Abdul Hakim Al Hashemi, Qatar is set to snatch yet another world-first by opening its first ever parks with fully air-conditioned tracks,  powered by solar energy.

Ashghal is currently working on three new parks: Al Gharrafa, Umm Al Seneem, and Rawdat Al Khail. The parks will contain air-conditioned tracks for recreational activities such as walking, exercising and cycling – becoming the first ever parks with such technology.

The parks are expected to be completed and open to the public within the fourth quarter
of 2021.


Author: Ola Diab

This feature is from Marhaba’s WINTER 2021/22 Issue – M82.

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