IN A BID to provide city folks with more time for leisure and recreation, 10 parks in Kuala Lumpur will now open from 5.30am to 10pm daily.
Previously, the parks open from 6am to 10pm.
They are Taman Botani Perdana, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Taman Metropolitan Kepong, Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Taman Bukit Jalil, Taman Tasik Menjalara, Taman Pudu Ulu, Taman Rekreasi Alam Damai, Taman Tasik Ampang Hilir and Taman Tasik Danau Kota.
Minister in the Prime Minister Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the new operational hours will benefit early birds who visit the park in the morning.
“City folks need a place and a longer time for recreational activities.
“Many senior citizen would exercise early and have asked for the street lamps in the park to be switched on as early as 5.30am,” she said, during a press conference at Taman Metropolitan Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
Yeoh said that the extended operating hours apply exclusively to major urban parks.
“Earlier opening hours will not be extended to smaller neighbourhood parks as it is deemed unsuitable.
“Some parks host dance groups that play music, which could lead to noise complaints from nearby residents,” she said.
Also present during the press conference were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud, Perbadanan Putrajaya president Datuk Mohd Sakeri Abdul Kadir and Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng.
Additionally, the operating hours for Taman Botani Perdana and Taman Tasik Titiwangsa will be extended until midnight every Friday and Saturday, offering more space for city residents and families to enjoy leisure activities at night.
In the Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan, several promenades, public fields, and public parks under Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj) and Perbadanan Labuan (PL) are also open as early as 5:30am.
Putrajaya parks include Promenade Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2; Padang Awam Presint 9; Taman Awam Taman Kejiranan Presint 16; Taman Awam Taman Canseri, Presint 15 (Laman Duta); Taman Awam Secret Garden Putrajaya Steps, Presint 1 and Taman Awam Taman Seri Empangan, Presint 5.
For Labuan, the parks with extended operational hours include Padang Awam Dataran Labuan, Padang Ragbi Labuan, Padang Membedai, Taman Botani Labuan, Kompleks Sukan Laut Antarabangsa Labuan and Kawasan Rekreasi Taman Damai Pantai Layang-Layangan.
