Hutan Bandar MBJB, Danga Park and Taman Merdeka in Johor Baru saw strong visitor turnout during the recent school holidays as families sought affordable outings given the improved facilities.
Factory worker Andika Putra Nasrul, 40, said the school break finally gave him the opportunity to visit Hutan Bandar MBJB with his family.
“This is my first time here. I had wanted to visit since it reopened after the upgrading works, but it is quite far from my home and workplace in Pasir Gudang,” he said.
Andika said his wife suggested the visit after coming across positive comments about the park on social media.
“So, we decided to have a picnic here. My wife prepared the food and our three children really enjoyed swimming at the public pool,” he said.
He said the park was an attractive option for families seeking an affordable outing as there was no entrance fee.
Andika said Hutan Bandar was a peaceful place, despite it being within the city, for families to spend time together.
Technician Azizul Anuar, 41, once a regular park visitor, also returned to Hutan Bandar for the first time since its reopening after the upgrades.
“We just arrived from our hometown in Melaka and decided to stop at Hutan Bandar before going home to Taman Pelangi Indah,” he said.
He had initially planned to let his children swim but changed his mind after noticing the crowd.
“There were too many people in the pool. So, we bought some fish food and sat beside the pond to feed the fish instead,” he said.
Azizul said visitor numbers had noticeably increased compared with his previous visits.
“Hutan Bandar was not as busy before, but now there are many more visitors, especially families like mine.
“I think that is a positive development,” he said.
Tour van driver Dixson Soh, 52, said Taman Merdeka was a good place to unwind while waiting for his passengers.
Soh, who frequently travels between Melaka and Johor Baru with tourists, said it was his first visit to the park.
“Taman Merdeka is a good place to rest after sitting in the van for hours,” he said.
He was impressed by the park’s cleanliness and upkeep, as well as its information boards highlighting important dates and historical events.
Soh added that Taman Merdeka could be further developed as an attraction for tourists and locals.
At Danga Park, logistics supervisor A. Thiru, 40, said the upgraded park gave families an ideal setting to spend time together.
As relatives were visiting him from Penang, he took his nephew and niece to Danga Park as part of their outing around the city.
“We really enjoyed Danga Park because the children can play and enjoy themselves in a safe environment,” he said.
Thiru was pleased with the facilities and hoped similar parks could be developed closer to residential areas.
The four visitors’ experiences reflect the growing appeal of Johor Baru’s parks as affordable spaces for families to spend time together close to home.
