AN idle land that was once an eyesore because of overgrown grasses and also used as an illegal cow pen in Lorong Zoo 7 in Air Itam, Penang, has now been turned into a beautiful recreational park.
Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Seong launched the park, known as Lorong Zoo 7 Neighbourhood Park, today for residents at Jalan Zoo and surrounding areas, like Jalan Chor Sin Kheng, Jalan Mata Kucing and Kampung Melayu to enjoy their exercises or walks.
He said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which owns the idle land, had spent RM106,000 to transform the area into a park that boosts of some old rain trees.
Besides doing some landscaping works, MBPP had also installed a few exercise equipment and three solar lamp posts at the 25,000sq ft park.
Ng said he would ask MBPP to consider residents’ request for more equipment to be installed.
“This park is one of the initiatives carried out by MBPP in line with the state’s vision to make Penang safer, cleaner, greener and healthier,” Ng read out the speech of MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, who was unable to attend the launch as he had a last-minute engagement.
“I hope that as the residents use the park here, they will foster a spirit of unity and live harmoniously.
“As a city council, MBPP will continue to expand its tree planting project because MBPP is very committed to preserving sustainable development.
“From 2008 to 2019, MBPP has upgraded 56 neighbourhood parks and pocket parks in Penang and also planted a total of 41,000 trees on the island.”
Ng said the idea to turn the idle land to a neighbourhood park was suggested by his predecessor Wong Hon Wai, who is now the Bukit Bendera MP.
For next year, Ng said MBPP has planned to establish four neighbourhood parks at a cost of RM2.5 million at Taman Semarak Api (Farlim, Phase 2), Taman Lengkok P. Ramlee, Taman Medan Angsana (Farlim) and Taman Bukit Jambul.
Also present were Wong’s personal assistant Ng Cheng Foo, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh’s personal assistant G. Visvanaath and several MBPP staff members.
Cheng Foo, speaking on behalf of Wong who is attending the ongoing Parliament sitting, said he hoped that residents using the park would not litter the area.
Later, Ng, Cheng Foo and Visvanaath symbolically planted a Bucida Tikus tree (also known as Diospyros Buxifolia) to mark the launch of the park.
A group of women came to check out the new park this morning upon learning of the launch.
“This place looks cooler than the park we have been exercising in Rifle Range. The area below the shady trees is ideal for line dancing,” said Kee Chew Eng, 58.
For Zoo Road residents Patrick a/l Choong Know and his wife, K. Rayee, they took the opportunity of taking out wheelchair-bound Papa Muniandy, 84, for some fresh air at the park.
“We’re staying just near the park. So, it is good to bring my mum outdoor sometimes,” said Rayee.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting