Green revolution: Jeddah to have 76 new gardens

Jeddah is getting a green makeover with the mayoralty planning to build 76 new gardens at a cost of SR 68 million by the end of the year. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Nahari, spokesman for Jeddah Mayoralty, said the project would cover many neighborhoods of Jeddah, depending on “demographic density,” and where there are currently few or no gardens. He said the contracts have already been awarded to international firms specializing in garden design and construction. “Implementation will be under the direct supervision of the municipalities in the various neighborhoods,” he said. The project covers the following gardens: Obhur 17; New Jeddah 6; Airport 18; Al-Aziziyyah 10; Briman 9; the university 3; Umm Al-Salam 4; the south 5; and Zahban 4. The gardens will feature pathways, parking lots, sunshades, water tanks, irrigation networks, playgrounds for children, lighting posts, football fields, special areas for families, cafeterias and toilets. He said that over the last two years the mayoralty has built more than 50 open municipal yards (green areas) with playgrounds for children and special shaded sections for families. It also built more than 30 yards, which brings the total number of gardens in Jeddah to 600, covering a total area of 2,362,302 square meters. Last year, the mayoralty planted greenery in 627 locations covering 2,136,988 square meters. This is in addition to 48 city squares covering 289,526 square meters. - ArabNews