Poor maintenance spoils it for many of the city's parks

DBKL managed parks review

Tourists and city folk are blessed that they can enjoy the beauty of the many public parks in Kuala Lumpur.

However, despite the parks’ popularity and lush greenery, there are various shortcomings at some of the 15 public parks managed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

The parks are generally in good condition with well-maintained grass, ample parking spaces, sufficient lighting, clean and functional toilets, well-maintained jogging trails as well as fitness and children’s playground equipment.

But the shortcomings that are common in many of the parks include missing drain covers, damaged rubbish bins, and insufficient shady trees to provide shade for visitors.

It is hoped that DBKL will address the problems highlighted here if it is serious in its bid to encourage the public to make parks a frequent destination for rest and recreation activities for the whole family.

Fences along Titiwangsa Lake Gardens have rusted and are damaged.

1. Titiwangsa Lake Garden

The park hosts a list of activities such as horseback riding, kite flying, canoeing, boating, jogging and aqua biking.

Its shortcomings:

— Uncollected rubbish bags next to a field facing Jalan Temerloh. Pests such as crows and cats have made holes in the bags, leaving rubbish strewn across the field.

— Construction material left near children’s playground.

— Exposed wire and bolts close to the children’s playground.

— Rusty, damaged or missing fences next to the river .

— The water ways around the lake are clogged up with weeds.

2. Permaisuri Lake Garden

A scenic park by a picturesque lake with many jogging trails that wind around large shady trees.

Highly recommended.

— There are special tiles to guide the blind.

— There is a special area dedicated to the disabled.

— Grass, trees, shrubs and flowering plants are well maintained.

—Good security — spotted two policemen on motorcycles patrolling the park’s jogging path.

Its shortcomings:

— Some sections of the drain are poorly constructed with water getting stagnant. In other areas, water has seeped into the ground due to gaps in between connecting drain pipes.

— Some of the gazebos have been vandalised with lewd writings.

— A football pitch in Jalan Tasik Permaisuri 2 is devoid of grass.

3. Perdana Botanical Garden

Formerly known as Taman Tasik Perdana or Lake Gardens, this park has hundreds of species of flowers, plants and trees coupled with beautiful landscape. It also has a deer park and waterfall. A must visit.

— Most plants in the park are identified with name plaques.

— Lots of large shady trees.

— Deer and mousedeer park well maintained.

— Lovely landspace.

Its shortcomings:

— Electricity wasted as street lights at some areas are still switched on during the day.

— A water leak in the deer enclosure left one-third of it partially flooded.

— None of the water pipes placed within ornamental tigers near the children’s park are working.

4. Ampang Hilir Lake Garden

Being located near various embassies, it is popular among expatriates.

— Several eateries in the park are well decorated with various plants and flowers.

— Great view of the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower.

Its shortcomings:

— Danger of electrocution as the fuse box for all the decorative street lights are not closed.

— A section of the perimeter fence along the MRR2 is badly damaged.

A broken children’s ride at Taman Tasik Datuk Keramat.

5. Datuk Keramat Lake Garden

One of the smaller parks managed by DBKL that is beautiful and well maintained as well as being located close to various neigh- bourhoods. Has a rentable futsal court and large canopy over its fitness area.

— Lots of benches located under shady trees facing the lake.

Its shortcomings:

— One of the children’s playground equipment is broken.

— The edges of some of the staircases are broken and could cause injury if a person slips and falls.

6. Menjalara Lake Garden

Another small park that is very scenic and popular especially for the elderly folk.

— There are various lookout points that stretched over the pond.

Its shortcomings:

— One lookout point is in danger of collapsing with only a thin flimsy red tape placed across the structure.

— Rubber placemats in an open area used for group activities is in bad condition.

— A see-saw in the children’s playground is broken.

7. Taman Pudu Ulu

This is one of the parks that was enlisted in the Sahabat Taman programme at the end of last year.

Its shortcomings:

— A lookout tower here is in serious danger of collapsing as there are two holes located on the flight of stairs and at the top of the tower.

— The wooden floor board on the top of the tower is in extremely bad shape and might cave in. This facility should be sealed off immediately pending repairs.

— Water-logged football pitch and ground near the children’s playground.

— Persistent water leak behind the football pitch.

8. Ayer Panas Community Park

Located next to the Sungai Bonus low-cost housing project in Setapak, this park has a football pitch, two basketball courts, a futsal pitch and a badminton court.

Its shortcomings:

— Grass desperately needs a cut. Many areas covered with prickly lovegrass and waist-high grass.

— Exposed fuse box located at the surau in danger of short circuit during rain.

— Lack of rubbish bins

— Discarded liquor bottles can be seen at several locations.

— Toilets locked up.

9. Taman Alam Damai

Nestled in a densely populated neighbourhood in Cheras, the park is generally in good condition and is popular with residents in the nearby area.

Its shortcomings:

— A section of the park is completely covered in tiles and with connecting water ways is in very poor condition.

— A field near the children’s playground is devoid of grass.

— There are nine fountains located on higher ground which are not functioning. There is stagnant water in eight of the medium-sized ceramic bowls with mosquito larvae spotted in most of them.

— Many of the tiles in this area are broken or missing especially on the stairs.

— Large roots of trees have damaged the floor tiles.

— Two lamp posts are damaged and now lean forward.

— Missing and broken rubbish bins.

10. Taman Dusun Bandar

Located along Jalan Bellamy behind the former Istana Negara, this is a relatively new park. There are plans to turn it into a fruit orchard at a cost of RM17.2mil

Its shortcomings:

— No clear signage leading to the park.

— Very few signage to direct the public to a parking area located less than 100m away from the main entrance.

— Most of the trees are diseased with dried leaves and insect-ridden holes on the trunks.

— Pathways and stairs lead to dead-ends on a crooked bridge.

— Toilets across the main area are in bad condition and dark.

— Branches of trees are leaning over the walkway.

— Some of the trees are planted too close to the walkway which could cause problems in the future when the trees are fully grown and their roots cause considerable damage to the cement walkways.

— Children’s playground are clearly underutilised.

— A fallen tree that caused damage to a metal railing has been cut into smaller pieces but left lying around.

Rubbish floating at the edge of the lake at Taman Metropolitan Kepong.

11. Taman Metropolitan Kepong

The 117ha urban park is located on the fringes of the city with a wide variety of recreational facilities and landscape themes. It is an extremely popular park in the evenings especially for picnics and kite enthusiasts.

Its shortcomings:

— Damaged equipment at the fitness and children’s playground area.

— Illegal stalls selling food and drinks and contribute to rubbish thrown all over.

— Many crows.

— Lake is dirty with rubbish floating in it.

— Mud overflows into the children’s playground area.

— Metal covers for fountain missing and can cause visitors to trip and hurt themselves.

12. Taman Metropolitan Batu

The 113.36ha park that serves several housing areas in Batu, Segambut and Jalan Ipoh, is a hit among joggers and Tai Chi practitioners in the morning. The park also has a vast skating and skateboarding rink and off-road remote control track.

Its shortcomings:

— Metal covers for most of the drains are missing, even for a 2m-deep drain near the children’s playground.

— Anglers fish in the pond despite clear signage prohibiting fishing.

— Security issues especially at night when it becomes a lovers’ and drinkers’ haunt.

— The second section of the skateboard rink is in poor condition.

— Overgrown grass.

A park bench at Taman Rimba Kiara is damaged after being hit by a fallen tree. There are also a lot of tree trunks and branches all over the park.

13. Taman Rimba Kiara

Located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), this park is popular especially on weekends where events such as garden weddings are also held.

Its shortcomings:

— The floodlights and lights throughout the park are left switched on during the day.

— Tree branches and trunks have been cut and left on the ground at numerous spots.

— Lots of mosquitos

— Most of the perimeter fencing around the park is damaged.

— Stagnant water at several areas and in drains are clogged up with leaves.

— Milky water flowing in a creek behind the park could possibly contain pollutants.

14. Taman Bukit Jalil

Located near the Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Resort, this park is a popular spot for joggers in the evening.

Its shortcomings:

— Children risk suffering various injuries due to the damaged playground facilities. Exposed metal wires at the children’s rope ladder that are also rusted. Broken base at the plastic tunnel at the play area. Broken plastic dome at the play area.

— Broken steps leading to the fitness equipment area.

— Very poor uncovered rubbish bin design that collects rain water. Rubbish inside uncollected.

— Overgrown grass.

— Damaged lamp post near the fitness area.

— Exposed wiring from a broken lamp post near the large ornamental structure at the entrance.

15. Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi

Located at Jalan Kubor in Pantai Dalam, it is recommended to stay away from this park completely due to the current upgrading works.

Its shortcomings:

— It is located in a very isolated area. Although the park is open to public, most of the area is closed pending major upgrading works. The road leading to this area feels like one is driving through a massive construction site.

— There are only a few things a visitor can do here such as enjoy its little ponds and sit under several gazebos.