SHARJAH // The long-awaited redevelopment of Al Jazeera Park in Sharjah city has been so thorough it even includes a new name.
To be known as Al Montazah Park, which means a place to picnic in Arabic, it is part of plans by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to beautify the emirate for tourists and residents.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the chairwoman of Shurooq, last week visited the site to inspect the progress of building works in preparation for its unofficial opening at the start of next year.
“Sharjah has become home to cultural, historical, art and heritage tourist facilities, making it a destination of choice for family members, visitors and tourists from the country and abroad,” Sheikha Bodour said.
“Upon its completion, the park will be a regionally competitive tourist attraction in terms of quality, design, state-of-the-art amenities and high-quality services, mainly targeting families.”
Details of what visitors can expect to see at the park have not been revealed.
During her tour, Sheikha Bodour issued instructions to speed up key building and landscaping work.
The park, originally opened in 1979, covers an area of 13,000 square metres on an island in Khalid Lagoon, opposite Sharjah Central Market.
It joins Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Qasba and the Heart of Sharjah project on the list of the emirate’s main attractions.
People living close by said they were eagerly awaiting the park’s opening.
Yousef, 30, a Palestinian who was born in Sharjah and played in Al Jazeera Park as a child, said he was looking forward to taking his two children to Al Montazah.
“I can recollect so many memories about the park when we were still young. It was the most popular outing place for children. We used to have fun,” Yousef said.
“Previously it had lost its charm with other new attractions in the emirate and few people actually were visiting the place. We are lucky to see redevelopment in the place to regain its old-days charm.”
Sharjah Municipality also launched a Dh22 million project to redevelop Rolla Square park, which is expected to be finished next month.
Once completed, the 3.7-hectare park will feature seven fountains and a cafeteria in the shape of a tree, and will have 60 per cent of its space set aside for green areas.
Marwan Al Sarkal, the chief executive of Shurooq, said many families made use of the emirate’s parks.
“Shurooq is still savouring the great success the Al Majaz Waterfront has achieved and the huge public turnout it has received,” Mr Al Sarkal said.
“We believe the development of Al Jazeera Park is timely, especially in view of the park’s growing needs for development so as to meet the demands of visitors and tourists.”
ykakande@thenational.ae
