APPEALS have gone out to close down two public parks in the Southern Governorate that residents claim are being repeatedly vandalised or used for illegal activities.
Around 100 people have signed two mass petitions seeking to shut down the recreational facilities in West Riffa and Zallaq and set up parking lots in the areas alloted for them.
The Southern Municipal Council has unanimously approved the plan which will be reviewed by Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
Area councillor Khalid Shajra claimed that the park in West Riffa was so noisy that it has robbed residents of their peace of mind.
“Unfortunately, it’s no longer a place for families to relax and unwind,” said Mr Shajra, adding that people even feared stepping into the facilities as they were ‘often harassed and bullied’ by vandals.
“We cannot leave the public park open at the moment as it has no fence or security guard and families wouldn’t want to use it unless they feel safe and secure,” he said.
“There are other parks nearby and we agree with residents that it should be turned into a parking facility. Such a move would be a boon for people and streamline traffic as well.”
The council’s technical committee chairman and Zallaq councillor Hamad Al Zoubi said the park in his area had been abandoned for years after it was subjected to acts of sabotage and vandalism.
“The garden in Zallaq has been attacked and neglected over the years and it is in an ugly state at the moment,” claimed Mr Al Zoubi.
“Basically, it is a public park, but in reality it is useless. Turning it into a parking facility would help resolve an existing problem faced by residents of the area and ensure that municipal spending for maintenance of the garden is saved.”
The council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Mubarak Faraj backed the proposal, asserting that turning the public parks into women-and-children-only facilities, as suggested by a few people, would prove to be expensive.
“For a women-and children-only park, we will need to set up high walls, hire female security guards, increase the number of rest areas and shades and even change the toilets for children,” he said. “At the moment, it would be much easier and cost-effective to set up two car parking lots.”
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said new fences would not protect the garden from trespassers.
“There are multiple ways to tear up fences and youths who believe the property is theirs do the maximum damage at night,” he said. “Youngsters have stopped using the main gates of parks because they are creating several openings for themselves. If we cannot control public parks or secure the facilities, they should be removed.”
If the decision is ratified by the minister, it would be the first time in Bahrain’s history that any public garden would be shut down to make way for a parking lot.
In 2006, Al Bahar Park in Umm Al Hassam, which was leased out for a sheesha coffee shop and restaurant, was closed down. A mosque was built in its place years later.
In 2015, men were banned from entering the Umm Guwaifa Garden in West Riffa following claims that it had been monopolised by expats playing loud music at night and cricket. Residents had called for the park to be shut down, however, the proposal was rejected by the government.
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