King Abdulaziz Park Construction Underway

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has ordered the beginning of the construction on King Abdulaziz Park.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman suggested the name of the park to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. The Crown Prince is also chair of the RCRC.

A Green Riyadh undertaking

Part of the “Green Riyadh” project, the King Abdulaziz Park spans 4.3 million square meters. RCRC planned the construction to take place over 36 months.

It is located near the King Khalid International Airport and the Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). The park will also have a connection to a train station, making it accessible to both visitors and residents alike.

RCRC chose the layout of King Abdulaziz Park based on the winning design from an earlier competition. Four international companies took part in the contest.

11 kilometers of the Munsiyah tributary will cut through the park. Six botanical zones characterize the park’s design. The most notable of these zones is the 200,000-square-meter botanical garden in the center with 200 native plants.

Commercial buildings with sustainable designs will fill 1,000 square meters within the botanical garden. These will feature a design that allows them to blend into their environment.

Meanwhile, there will also be a panoramic path overlooking the botanical garden, measuring more than two kilometers long.

King Abdulaziz Park: Fostering biodiversity

Other areas, on the other hand, will undergo transformation into deserts, highlands, plains, and plateaus, for biodiversity and wildlife habitation. The goal is to attract different species such as butterflies, birds, and other animals.

RCPC handpicked over two million trees and shrubs suitable for Riyadh’s climate. These will be planted to achieve a shade coverage of 65 percent. Recycled water will also be used to irrigate the plants and trees in the King Abdulaziz Park.

On top of its green elements, King Abdulaziz Park will also feature 24 children’s play areas, 30 sports facilities. Cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians will also appreciate over 115 kilometers of dedicated paths to foster health and wellness.

How parks improve quality of life

Speaking to Arab News, CEO of the Quality of Life Program Khaled Al-Bakr remarked, “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.”

“Parks enable sports activities and provide recreational places for individuals and families, in addition to their environmental and climatic benefits,” he added.

King Abdulaziz Park and other Green Riyadh Projects underscore the aim of transforming Riyadh and attracting 150 million visitors annually. Earlier in July, Riyadh was named one of the top 15 fastest-growing cities in the world by 2033.

Apart from these, other areas such as the Al-Urubah, Al Munsiyah, Al Qadisiyah, and Al-Rimmal parks are also undergoing construction. Planting is also underway along main thoroughfares such as the King Khalid Road and the King Salman Road.

Saudi authorities have also developed a 1,350-kilometer irrigation system to help nourish plants and shrubs in these parks.

Photo: Twitter/Arab News