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Families from across the kingdom are flocking to Khalifa Al Kubra Garden which recently opened its gates to the public.
The BD4.5 million state-of-the-art creation, beautifying Riffa across 78,000sq/m, features fun-filled activities and introduces a new fitness and health attraction to the island.
Come sundown, the air is filled with laughter as people of all ages enjoy the fabulous facilities which include a bicycle track, a skate-boarding zone, a 1km walkway, tennis courts, football, basketball and volleyball playgrounds and a fitness station.
For years the cascading strip of land in the heart of East Riffa was ignored as drivers drove past it without a second thought. It was a heap of sand, hidden by the ramps of parked cars.
Now, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, says the park provides visitors with a sizeable open space filled with activities for families, in particular, to embrace. A spokesman said: “The main reason behind the construction of the park was to beautify the area and to provide entertaining facilities for children.
“The garden is also good for the environment and provides a place where friends and families can meet up with each other.”
The ministry implemented the project, which started in November 2009, with Ahmed Omer Trading and Contracting. The two are still in the process of building a children’s arcade, artificial water ponds, a fountain, an open-air food court as well as health facilities and a first-aid room.
The park, however, has quickly become a firm favourite with local children. Mohammed Mubarak, 15, from Jau, said: “I come here to play football with my friends. We usually stay after we’re done with the match and walk around. We finally have somewhere that is pretty cool and fun to play in.”
Families have also given the park top marks. Rukshana Rizan, 32, from Riffa, comes to it regularly with her three children, 10-year-old Sara, Reem, six, and Salman, five.
Rukshana explained how much she appreciated somewhere close to home where she could take her children to play safely and how when they went home, the kids would be too excited to sleep, thinking about their next visit to the jungle gym.
She said: “The park is beautiful. It’s very clean and has plenty of security. It’s sort of like a getaway from all the sand you see around. It’s somewhere comfortable to spend time together and have fun.”
Park life has been high on the ministry’s agenda in recent years and several parks have been created across the kingdom including Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park, Al-Hunainiyyah Park, Ain Adhari Park, Al-Salmaniya Park and Andalusia Park.
There are also numerous smaller facilities in the various governorates now encouraging villagers and expats to enjoy a healthier lifestyle in the fresh air and providing areas for children to play.
Shlobijeini Sheshadri, 33, from Riffa, said: “The whole family comes to the park together. My husband and I enjoy using it for exercise and my two children, Misha and Abhishek, head straight to the play areas. They love it and they never want to leave, even when I’m tired and want to go home, they insist we stay a few minutes more!”
To prove the point, her five-year-old daughter bellowed: “I am having so much fun!”
Small trees and green spaces cover a total of 26,000sq/m of the parkland, with no smoking beyond the entrance gates.
Rijo Varghese, from Riffa, said: “We came to the park for a walk with our little baby and enjoyed it so much we now try to come whenever possible. There are excellent facilities and it’s beautiful. All the greenery and the trees are the main reason we want to keep coming back. It’s perfect for our family.”
“It’s a very short distance from my house so I come here all the time,” added Danya Nasser, eight, from Riffa. “My mother sits and reads her book as I like to play on the slides with all the other children.”
Fatima Rashid Al Shaikh, 12, from Riffa, said: “I come here with friends. It’s a beautiful and clean garden.”
Ghassan Abbas Ahmed, also from Riffa, added: “I decided to bring my son to the swings to get out of the house after Iftar time. He is really enjoying himself and doesn’t want to leave.”
Even more parks are planned to be created in the coming years at various locations across the kingdom. Until then, enjoy park life at Khalifa Al Kubra Gardens - open from 7am to 10pm every day.
