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Sunday March 4, 2007

KL’s very own public park

By JANE RITIKOS

KUALA LUMPUR: The capital will soon have its own version of London's Hyde Park or New York's Central Park.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said his ministry has identified a 162ha piece of government land in the Federal Territory here to be developed into a public park.

“The Cabinet feels that we need to have a huge park like Hyde Park which is a good place for the people to relax and spend their time in a healthy environment,” he said.

Tree’s company too: Ong shovelling up top soil poured out by wife Datin Seri Wendy Ong for the Golden Chain sapling (on the left) they had planted to mark National Landscape Day in Sungai Buloh yesterday.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the National Landscape Day in Sungai Buloh near here yesterday.

London’s renowned Hyde Park covers 142ha and has 4,000 trees, a lake, meadow, horse rides, playground, band stands and many other facilities.

Ong said the park would be a symbol for Kuala Lumpur as it would be a world-class public park and would be much bigger than the current Lake Gardens which is 91ha.

“The park we have in mind will have a garden, bicycle path, picnic area, jogging path, playground and space for children to play football. All this is being worked out by the landscape department,” he said.

He said the creation of the park was in line with the Government’s effort to ensure sufficient open spaces and green lungs for the population.

Ong said the site which had been identified was still “untouched by development.”

He said his ministry and the Federal Territories Ministry would submit a proposal to the Cabinet and if approved, the planning would start this year.

On the annual National Landscape Day, he said Sungai Buloh was a fitting location benefiting this year's theme “Landscaping, An Industry,” because the area had many nurseries and landscaping businesses.

He said the landscaping industry had contributed to the economy but its growth was hindered by factors such as the absence of a permanent site.

“As such, we will assist the industry by creating a Landscape Industrial Village Exposition Centre to provide proper space, infrastructure and promotional activities,” he added.

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