FIVE public parks across Damansara Damai are slated for major revamps with an RM8mil allocation by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the upgrading would be carried out in phases due to the high costs involved.
“We will focus on basic amenities such as jogging tracks, children’s playgrounds and gazebos,” he said after launching the reopening of the Taman Damai Setia park in Jalan PJU 10/1.
The 3.4ha facility was upgraded at a cost of RM660,000 and was the first of the five public parks to have received a facelift.
Works took 20 weeks to complete, including upgrades of the parking space and building benches and landscaping works.
To improve security, the mayor said two closed-circuit television cameras would be installed inside the park.
“People come as early as 6.30am; the recordings may come in handy during police investigations, if needed.
“We will also use the cameras to monitor against vandals and litterbugs.
“We will issue compounds to those caught,” he said.
The event was attended by SK Bandar Sri Damansara pupils, who planted 30 saplings at the park.
Also present were Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Pua Pei Ling and MBPJ Landscape Department director Dr Badrulzaman Jaafar.
Separately, Mohamad Zahri urged food court traders in Jalan 223 to be patient while awaiting the flood mitigation projects in the area to be completed.
He said the drains there were only equipped to accommodate 20mm of rain as it was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“The drains cannot cope with the current rainfall, at 60mm or more,” he said, adding that MBPJ was in the midst of hiring contractors to upgrade the drains in the area.
On July 18, the food court was inundated following heavy rain, after similar flooding incidents on May 6 and April 20.
Mohamad Zahri announced on July 24 that traders affected by the floods would get a one-month exemption and a 30% rental discount until December.
Traders reportedly declined offers to relocate, citing the area’s high visibility and established commercial success.
