IPOH: A dinosaur park, the first in Perak, will be set up at Kinta Valley Geopark.
Ipoh City Council mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the park would be established at Gunung Lang recreational area on 2.43ha of land.
He said the recreational area was chosen because the area already had a petting zoo and boating activities.
"That location is ideal for the park to be set up, as it is the fifth most-visited recreational area in the country
"The Unesco status will not be affected as well, as the eco-friendly park is among the developments encouraged in such sites," he told reporters after the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony for the construction of the park with Pebec Berhad.
The MOU was signed by Rumaizi and the company’s chairman Norali Nordin.
Rumaizi said plans were for the first phase of the park to be opened in the middle of next year, in conjunction with Visit Perak Year 2024.
"For the first phase, some 30 static and animatronic dinosaurs, a learning centre and a gift shop will be set up.
"For phase two, to be set up a year after phase one opens, it will probably house a 3D and 4D theater, and a water play section," he added.
Rumaizi said the first phase would take between six and eight months to be developed.
He said currently there were six other dinosaur parks operating in Penang, Genting Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, Melaka and Sabah.
"However this park in Perak will be unique, as it is the first to be set up in a geopark site," he added.
Rumaizi said currently there were between 20,000 and 30,000 visitors to Gunung Lang monthly.
Come school holidays, the numbers of visitors double.
"When the additional dinosaur park is set up, we will probably see figures triple," he added.
