Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar has started works of various projects to build Al Furjan public parks within residential neighborhoods across Qatar. The projects, according to an official press statement by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) are implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).
Eng. Amna al-Bader, Secretary of the Committee, said that increasing green areas within cities contributes to enhanced sustainability of environmental development in line with the fourth pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 that aims to manage the environment in a way while ensuring harmony and consistency between economic and social development and environmental protection and to achieve the required balance between them.
Abdulhadi al-Marri, Climate Change Department Director at MME, said the ministry has allocated a number of lands across Qatar for Al Furjan Parks project to expand the construction of parks, planting of trees and increasing green spaces within the strategic plan while considering it's impact on preserving the environment. “These parks improve weather conditions, reduce pollution and lower temperatures during different periods of the year. They also have a key role in purifying the atmosphere and limiting the effects of climate change. Furjan parks will also contribute in protecting the neighborhood from dust, which will reflect positively on the health and safety of people,” he said.
Mohamed al-Khouri, Director of Public Parks Department at MME said the parks are basically constructed to act as a breather for community members. “Thus, our prime focus is people and we work to provide high-quality service due to the fact that public parks contribute to increasing green area and improving quality of life, and are considered as natural filters to purify the air from carbon emission,” he said.
He added that the Public Parks Department is making extensive efforts to equip all public parks in the country by identifying and studying plant species and trees that will be carefully planted in the parks so that it consumes small quantities of water, and are adapted to the local climate and environment conditions. “Plantation will be a mixture between environmental trees and shady trees, considering that these parks are distributed in a thoughtful manner as per priority, and population density of different areas. The plan also considers the provision of appropriate services and various designs, according to the residents’ needs,” he explained.
Eng. Jassim Abdulrahman Fakhroo, Projects Manager of the Committee, said that the committee Al Furjan Parks include many features that make them enjoyable for all family members including elderly, youth and children. “These features and services vary according to the area of the park, such as pedestrian and cyclist paths, seats, and some parks include kids’ play areas, fitness equipment, kiosks, and others. Elderly people and people with special needs are also taken into consideration in the designs,” he said.
He added that designs for several parks are completed for areas including Fereej Al Soudan, Fereej Hazm Al Markhiya, Al Thameed, Rawdat Egdaim and Al Mearad. The park construction projects are awarded to five local contractors including JH Construction, Al Nakheel Agriculture and Trading, Boom General Contracting, Elegancia Landscape and AG Middle East. Further, Eng. Jassim Fakhroo explained that the scope of works in these projects includes also implementing infrastructure works such as irrigation, electricity, rainwater drainage, and others. Additional works will also be implemented in some parks including kids play areaS and service buildings that include prayer areas, toiles, guardrooms and others.
Eng. Reem Khalid al-Muraikh, Projects Design Manager at the Committee, stated that she is currently working on implementation of designs of three parks on a total area of about 42,000 sq.m. “Two of these parks are located in Al Rayyan Municipality including Al Soudan Park on an area of 2300 sq.m, which is planned to open for public in the second quarter of 2022, and Fereej Al Thameed Park to be built on 15,750 sq mt. “The third park located in Doha Municipality at Hazm Al Markhiya is to be built on an area of about 24,340 sq.m and these two parks are scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2022. She also added that Al Furjan Parks are being implemented with the aim of encouraging people of neighborhoods to interact with the environment around them and enjoy nature. The size of the allocated land is taken into consideration during the design of the parks, as well as the services that can be provided accordingly, such as provision of fitness equipment, kiosks, and various plants that give aesthetic appearance and make the park an attractive and enjoyable spot for residents of the area,” al-Muraikh said.
Eng. Reem further added that the contract for the construction of three parks is a ‘design and build’ contract, assigned to Al Nakheel Agriculture and Trading Company, which has already started preparatory works on the site.
Regarding Furjan Parks at Rawdat Egdaim and Al Mearad in Al Rayyan Municipality, Eng. Jazmine Sheikh, Projects Design Manager at the Committee, said that the first park is to be built on an area of about 24,000 sq.m, while the second is to be built on an area of 3,520 sq.m. The construction of these parks is assigned to AG Middle East, which has started preliminary works on the site, and the two parks are scheduled to open to the public during the third quarter of 2022.

Eng. Jazmine added that the location of the park and the surrounding buildings are taken into consideration during the design. For example, during the design of Rawdat Egdaim Park, the area was studied, and the location of the park was considered where it is surrounded by a nursery, a mosque and a commercial complex, and also surrounded by streets from north, east and south. Therefore, it is proposed to implement an alley, which is called ‘Sikka’, next to the park from the west to integrate with the design of the park and facilitate access. The Park designs include the provision of multiple entry/exit points along the perimeters, considering each neighborhood and there requirements with clear passages to ensure visitors' safety and ease of access.
Eng. Maryam al-Kuwari, Projects Design Manager at the Committee, is supervising the design of several parks in Al Rayyan Municipality including Bu Hamour Park on an area of 5,800 sq.m, Al Sailiya Park on an area of 6,370 sq.m, and Al Muraikh Park on an area of 3,640 sq.m. She said that these projects are assigned to Boom General contracting and are scheduled to open to the public in the second quarter of 2022. Eng. She added that the parks are being designed in line with the area’s character, the surrounding buildings and landmark attractions on the premises. For example, the main design lines of Bu Hamour Park are inspired by one of the distinctive elements in the Bu Hamour area, the old markets such as Wholesale Market, Thursday and Friday Market and others. The arches of parks are sketched similar to the designs of traditional market shadings, considering there function in proportion to the use of the park. The design also includes pedestrian and jogging paths to facilitate exercise. Ease of access to the park was considered through walkways connected to surrounding areas, without the need to use cars.
 
 
 
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