Move to provide entertainment options and promote tourism
A BD9.1 million contract for the establishment of the second phase of Adhari Park was signed yesterday at the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture. The contract was penned between Minister Dr Mohammed Ali Al Sitri, executive manager at Al Khaleej Development Company Mohammed Al Tawash and chairman of Kuwaiti Commercial Mall Company Tawfeeq Al Jarah. The construction will start before the end of the year and be completed in June 2006.
The project is located on a plot of land approximately 165,319 square metres. It will include the establishment of playgrounds, swimming balls, multipurpose hall, restaurants and a coffee shop. It will also have a folklore village, a cultural centre, a sports hall and a mosque. A centre to learn golf will also be built in the area in addition to an open-air theatre and children's recreational area.
Trees and flowers will cover more than seven tents of the park. A committee of officials from the ministry and the municipal council has been formed to follow up the construction. The BD605,000 first phase of the park includes the establishment of a spring and the 200-metre channel flowing into it with additional public facilities such as showers and changing rooms, a cafeteria and shaded seating for visitors.
Surrounding areas were redesigned in a manner that would not disrupt the natural appearance of the spring while maintaining its historical and social identity. The minister said that the second stage would involve the redevelopment of the whole park surrounding the spring with the idea of maintaining the family-tourism factor and cutting down on investment by utilising natural greenery available.
"The project will offer 140 job opportunities for Bahrainis. It aims to transform the area into a recreational facility for people to enjoy," Dr Al Sitri said. "Developing the infrastructure of Bahrain's villages should be made a top priority as well as providing citizens and residents with a variety of entertainment."
"The northern area is badly in need of gardens, parks and other facilities where people, especially youngsters, can spend their time in security," he said. "The park has an important role in enhancing the national economy and providing a variety of entertainment options to citizens and residents as well as tourists." he said, adding that the commencement of project was a product of great royal aspiration to support municipal work within the framework of comprehensive reforms.
"The ministry considers this distinctive project with utmost care with regard to design and to promote its implementation. The design is a combination of originality of heritage and the use of modern technology to cope
with the standard of an international park," Dr Al Sitri said.
© Bahrain Tribune 2004
