Kuching Park Palmarium pride of locals

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THE Kuching Park Palmarium, planted with 30 species of local and imported palm trees, is set to become an icon for Kuching City South Council (MBKS).

It is the first such park in Sarawak, encompassing less than two hectares at the sprawling 25.9ha Kuching City Park within the local council’s grounds.

The state government had allocated RM1mil for the project which commenced in October 2008 and completed in August last year.

MBKS mayor James Chan is confident that the park will be synonymous with the council just as other neighbouring local authorities have famous parks of their own.

“Kuching City North Hall (DBKU) is famous for its Orchid Garden, while Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has its Pitcher Plant Garden. In MBKS, we are proud to say we have the palmarium - the first of its kind in Sarawak,” he said.

“The palmarium has an aesthetic value and enhances the environment in line with the overall concept of Kuching City Park. It’s easy and cheap to maintain and at the same time, makes the park look clean and neat.”

He said besides adding colour to the city’s landscape, the palmarium would also serve as a tourist attraction and an educational park for all.

He was confident that the palmarium would be a hit among both foreign and local tourists given its close proximity to the hotels surrounding it.

Chan said to add value and make a visit to the palmarium more educational, MBKS would tag all the trees planted there.

“This would enable visitors, students as well as regular joggers to know the names and species of trees that are available at the park,” he said.

MBKS landscaping officer Winifred Chin said to date, 356 palm trees from 30 indigenous and imported species had been planted at the palmarium.

“The majority of the imported species are ornamental palm trees, while 11 are of indigenous species which normally grow in the forest and swamp land,” she disclosed.

She said the trees, particularly the indigenous species, were still at a growing and acclimatisation stage.

Chin said so far, 30 trees, mainly from the indigenous species, had died and had to be replanted.

In a related development, Chan said MBKS was building a bicycle lane to connect the Kuching Park Palmarium to Kuching City Park and the Hokkien Garden.

The project is expected to be completed next month, he said.