Chow (crouching third from right) at the Linear Garden’s new bronze emblem during a visit to the garden at the Esplanade.
THE RM1.5mil Linear Garden, one of the main components of Penang’s North Seafront Masterplan, is now open to the public.
Promoted as an oasis next to the sea, the city centre’s latest tourist attraction is one of the 14 projects under the RM140mil North Seafront Master Plan.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the upgrading project, carried out on a 0.3ha site between the Cenotaph and the Medan Renong food court, was completed by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) in December last year.
“The Linear Garden was completed ahead of schedule.
“This project will lead to more sustainable socio-economic development of the state’s heritage assets, including natural assets,” he said in his speech during a site visit to the Esplanade.
Chow said the site was upgraded in 1991 before George Town was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008.
The emblem, seen here from above, is one of the special components of the garden. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
“The addition of the bronze emblem is something commonly found in most Unesco World Heritage Sites around the world, and is one of the special components in the Linear Garden.
“We have planted 60 trees, adding to the existing trees at the site to provide adequate shade and create a new green area near the sea.
“This project will make the Cenotaph area visitor-friendly following the removal of the previously installed iron fence which prevented the public from having closer access to the monument,” he elaborated.
Chow said he hoped to get funding from the Federal Government for the upgrading of Dewan Sri Pinang.
The 0.3ha Linear Garden is no longer surrounded by an iron fence, making it more visitor-friendly.
“The proposed upgrading work for the 52-year-old building is also one of the 14 projects under the North Seafront Masterplan,” he said, adding that the state executive council reviewed the upgrading project recently.
Chow said 11 out of the 14 projects under the North Seafront Masterplan were completed and it was time for Dewan Sri Pinang to get a facelift.
He said the concept for the upgrading works were on display in a public exhibition four years ago.
However, the project was postponed because the cost was projected to exceed RM50mil.
The 14 projects under the North Seafront Masterplan include widening of the Light Street pedestrian walkway, Esplanade seawall and promenade, restoration of the Clock Tower, English Garden, the recently completed Linear Garden and the ongoing L-shaped moat around Fort Cornwallis.
The North Seafront Masterplan is implemented by George Town Conservation and Development Corporation, a tripartite collaboration between Penang Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), Think City Sdn Bhd and Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
