KUALA LUMPUR City Hall (DBKL) aims to create and upgrade 48.56ha of recreational spaces in the city by the end of next year.
The areas include Danau Lumayan pond in Bandar Tun Razak, Taman Kejiranan Kolam Ayer Panas in Setapak, Sungai Bunos retention pond as well as Kampung Sungai Bohol Retention Pond along Sungai Kuyoh.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said DBKL was also planning to develop 20 new open spaces, with at least 0.4ha in each parliamentary constituency.
"These parks are mostly situated in residential neighborhoods, for which we will build pedestrian walkways.
"The overall allocation exceeds RM200mil in next year's budget," he said during a press conference held at Sungai Bunos retention pond.
Fadlun said the projects would be done in phases, prioritising neighborhood areas and existing sites where simple upgrades could be made quickly.
"For example, we are collaborating with the Kampung Sungai Bohol developer to build an 8km jogging track.
"Desilting work (at the river) is underway and will finish by October, after which we will initiate the construction.
"We hope everything is completed by 2027," he added.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the network of recreational spaces would be expanded across several other areas in Kuala Lumpur.
"Besides the additions of these green spaces, we have gazetted four other open spaces, bringing the latest grand total of gazetted open spaces to 556 lots.
"There are still more than 200 green spaces in the pipeline to be gazetted.
"This is to ensure that all such highly valuable recreational areas in Kuala Lumpur are protected, while also preventing encroachment," she said.
"The public can check the gazetted areas themselves via MyHijau on the Federal Territory Lands and Mines Office (PPTGWP) portal at www.ptgwp.gov.my/portal, along with all their locations," Yeoh added.
DBKL had submitted to Finance Ministry a matching grant under next year's budget to upgrade 14 children's playgrounds across several parliamentary constituencies
At the same time, DBKL is studying the potential of providing cycling and jogging paths within the Kwong Tong Cemetery area, which spans approximately 66.77ha.
This area has the potential to offer public recreational paths spanning 4km.
