Onn Hafiz (second from right) visiting Danga Bay to inspect the progress of the redevelopment project. With him are housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor (left) and Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad (right).
JOHOR BARU residents are divided over the Danga Bay redevelopment as the promise of a high-tech “smart park” clashes with the loss of the area’s historic coastal charm.
While the state prepares the waterfront for Visit Johor 2026, visitors are calling for a balance between modern features and the family-oriented amenities that once defined the site.
For many, this transition marks a major shift in the city’s social landscape.
Chitra hopes the redevelopment will revive Danga Bay’s lively atmosphere.Personal assistant R. Chitra recalled a time before extensive land reclamation when the area offered a quieter, more natural atmosphere.
She said around 2008 to 2010, Danga Bay was the go-to spot for her family, especially when it was relatively quiet with eateries by the seaside.
She observed that although subsequent commercial projects introduced funfairs and cafes, the area eventually lost its appeal and became a “dead zone”.
While Chitra supports the state government’s effort to upgrade the public playground with modern features and smart-park elements, she hoped issues such as parking limitations and access to public transport would not be overlooked.
“Danga Bay is one of the nicest places to enjoy the view, and visitors can see Singapore from there.
“But with the growing population and new housing projects, traffic has increased and limited parking is a concern.
Mohamad Dary wants a new and safer skatepark included in the redevelopment.“The state government’s plan is good, but it must be practical,” said the mother of three.
Chitra also hoped the redevelopment would bring back the lively atmosphere the area once had such as picnic spots and activities for both young children and teenagers to attract families.
Sales manager Jasmine Tan, who also used to visit Danga Bay when her children were younger, recalled the funfair, food stalls and vendors that made the area lively.
“I used to take my son there for skateboarding and to enjoy the funfair rides but the last time I went in 2020, the facilities were run-down.
“The funfair was quite costly and the rides looked poorly maintained and dangerous,” she claimed.
Tan hoped the upgrades would include cleaner toilets, more parking spaces and activities for younger children.
“I would love to take my grandchildren there one day as I had done my children.
“The place holds a lot of memories,” said Tan.
For the local sporting community, the loss of specific facilities has been felt deeply.
Mohamad Dary Irsyad was disappointed over the removal of the seaside skatepark.
“I was really sad when I drove past Danga Bay and saw the skatepark had been demolished because that was where I first learned to skate back in 2015.
“There are not many skateparks in Johor Baru and Danga Bay was one of my favourites because it was right by the sea,” said Mohamad Dary, who works in the food and beverage industry.
He hoped a new and safer skatepark would be included in the redevelopment, alongside basic amenities such as a surau.
Last November, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the redevelopment at Danga Bay was expected to be completed and the public park opened in February.
“The 2.3ha public park is being developed with a combination of modern physical elements and smart-park features.
“Some of the main facilities in their final stages of construction include pedestrian walkways, sky bridge, children’s play areas, recreational spaces and landscaping to beautify the entire area,” he said.
He added that the project would also introduce smart-park technology to enhance safety, comfort and visitor experience.
These features include adaptive lighting systems, QR code and radio-frequency identification (RFID) entry control, automated irrigation systems, smart bins and safety monitoring through the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
