Adel Abdulrahman Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Residents of south Jeddah neighborhoods want their local municipalities to designate more areas for public parks. Such parks provide recreation facilities for local families and save them from having to visit other neighborhoods, they said. Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, Kilo 13 resident, said south Jeddah neighborhoods are in dire need of more parks, especially in areas where there are not any. They should have the necessary facilities and services for the benefit of the public, he added. Abdulaziz Al-Ammari, a resident of Al-Muntazahat neighborhood, said a number of parks are vandalized and lack the necessary maintenance and cleaning services. He believed that penalties should be enforced on those who damage facilities and litter the parks. He asked the public to appreciate the millions of riyals the government has spent to prepare these areas and said they should play their role in their upkeep. He also asked Um Al-Salam Municipality to reopen the neighborhood's public park, which he said has been closed for a long time. That park has a large area and he believed the municipality should utilize that space and add more facilities. Abdullah Al-Shehri, another resident of Al-Muntazahat, said public parks have been converted into makeshift football playing fields for youngsters. This situation has put off families from visiting parks and requires the neighborhood umdah's (mayor) intervention for a resolution, he said. He added that there are two public parks in the neighborhood that need maintenance, toilets and more garbage bins. He said: “These youths should realize that these parks are for the whole public and not designated just for playing football.” Mohammad Al-Shehri, a resident of Al-Adl neighborhood, said families have become apprehensive of visiting public parks where youths play football. He believed that special areas should be designated for such activities to allow families and the general public to benefit from these facilities too. The head of Um Al-Salam municipality branch, Mohammad Al-Qarni, said Al-Muntazahat neighborhood's parks are the responsibility of the municipality's public parks and afforestation department.
