More 'green living' for city folk

Residents exercising at the Taman Ampang Hilir park. — Picture by P.C. Lim

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is going all out to make the city a green and people-friendly metropolis. It has allocated RM50 million to City Hall to provide more green areas, beautify the city and build more recreational facilities.

"There will be more futsal courts, playgrounds and parks. We hope to complete the project by 2010. We want to see more people-friendly development and we will also stress on more green areas for the people," said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin at the official opening of the Taman Ampang Hilir park.

Raja Nong Chik said the park was one of the government's efforts to provide adequate recreational facilities for the people, especially for those living in Ampang Hilir.

"This move is in line with the prime minister's 1Malaysia concept. People first. Performance now," he said.

Raja Nong Chik also said that his ministry and City Hall would be organising more programmes for the people.

"We want to encourage all races to come and participate in all the programmes and enjoy the facilities in the park," he said.

Also present at the opening were Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail. More than 200 people attended the event.

Fuad urged residents in the area to make full use of the park.

"The park is for the residents here. They should enjoy all the recreational facilities such as the jogging tracks and playground for children," he said

City Hall had spent RM14.5 million to develop the Taman Ampang Hilir park. The project started in September last year and was completed early this year. The park has 120 parking bays and beside its picturesque lake, residents and visitors can also utilise the multipurpose hall which has a stage, three badminton courts, changing rooms, a surau, pantry and toilets.

Before the project was developed, the park was an abandoned mining pool and home to squatters. The squatter colony was demolished in 2005 and the residents were moved to City Hall's low-cost housing schemes in the area. The park is located off Jalan Ampang, in Jalan Kendondong. -NST