ENTRANCE fees could be imposed across Bahrain’s public parks and walkways to protect them from irresponsible visitors and vandals who damage equipment and facilities at the recreational spots.
The proposal for a fee has been presented to the three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, it has emerged.
It follows reports of equipment being damaged beyond repair, or missing, with expensive sanitaryware stolen along with children’s play structures.
Under the new fee structure, which awaits approval from the councils and the board, individuals will be charged 300fils per entry or BD25 per 100-ticket booklet. The tickets will be made available electronically through the ministry’s app or BenefitPay.
Also proposed are fee waivers for people suffering from disabilities, the elderly above the age of 60, children below the age of five, school and university students, and ministries and government bodies.
Joggers and light sport lovers will also be exempted for two hours at times to be decided.
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar said it was unclear if the fees were intended for all municipal facilities, or select parks and walkways to be determined later.
“We have been asked whether entry fees could be enforced as a rule and as a chairman, I don’t believe it’s a right move,” he told the GDN.
“I can understand if fees are imposed on a theme park or one that offers a range of recreational options for visitors. But entry fee for every park and walkway is not ideal, especially with people going there for light sports or daily social activities.
“Why would someone pay BD25 a month to go with their family while such facilities should be open in the first place?”
Mr Al Naar added that vandalism, sabotage and destruction besides looting were individual practices not warranting group punishment.
Councillors had earlier claimed that youths were using rides, slides, see-saws and swings – which are not meant for their age group – and damaging, breaking and destroying them just so they can take live videos for social media or to meet a TikTok challenge.
They also claimed to have received reports of dirty rest rooms with nappies stuck down toilets or left in the sinks.
Ballcocks, bidets and water taps have also been allegedly stolen from toilets, and swings and slides have been chopped or torn apart.
“We need to crack down on vandalism, but enforcing fees means that we are forcing people to sit at home,” Mr Al Naar said.
“Salaries come at the end of the month and disappear within 10 days due to financial commitments and we cannot increase the burden on citizens.”
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif also backed Mr Al Naar, asserting that fee for parks was not acceptable at all.
“People are already suffering from the hardships of life and imposing fees for public parks, walkways and gardens doesn’t help as these are the places they go to for a breath of fresh air,” Mr Abdullatif said.
“Entry fees have already been imposed in some parks that present people with their money’s worth, but we cannot ask citizens to pay for every public garden.
“It also means all walkways could be fenced off within the upcoming months to enforce the fees, and that’s something we do not accept.
“We are pushing people to sit at home and spend time watching streaming services such as Netflix or Shahid because they are cheaper than paying BD9 a month (300 fils for daily visit) or buying a booklet for BD25,” he added.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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