Armenian Street Park a reality by February
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Law Suun Ting
COME February 2016, the Armenian Street Park is expected to be a new green space after being given an upgrade in terms of landscape, new and convenient walkways and installation of lighting which will give the park an “ecstatic” atmosphere.
However, the existing basketball court will be retained, re-orientated and become a multipurpose event space, while The Youth Centre will be refurbished in the near future.
“Under the Cleaner, Greener, Safer and Healthier Penang initiative, the Penang government has worked hard in its efforts to carry out programmes which focus on improving the quality of life for Penangites,” Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said at the launch of Armenian Street Park Improvement Project on Oct 8.
Among those present were Penang Island City Council (MBPP) secretary Ang Aing Thye, exco for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Chow Kon Yeow, Komtar assemblymember Teh Lai Heng, Think City Sdn Bhd secretary, Prof. Datuk Dr Anwar Razal, its executive director Hamdan Abdul Majeed and George Town Heritage Incorporated chief executive Lim Chooi Ping.
Guan Eng added that as part of its ongoing partnership to revitalise George Town, MBPP, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Think City and Aga Khan Trust for Culture are working together to upgrade Armenian Street and the Acheh Street neighbourhood.
“Think City funded RM1.2 million towards the Armenian Street improvement project,” he added.
The Armenian Street Park is one of the few green spaces in the George Town World Heritage site.
In its current state, Armenian Street Park is not meeting the community’s recreational or social needs, with only one in five households within a five minutes’ walk using it on a regular basis.
There is overwhelming support from all groups for a park upgrade with between 50-60% of residents saying they would use it more often.
Penang based landscape architecture firm Permata Green has been appointed to develop detailed plans and oversee construction work.
The project is expected to start this month and completed by next February.
Pix Caption:
The new look Armenian Park.
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