IT has been reported that there are plans to demolish the Shah Alam Stadium, which has major structural defects, and build a smaller stadium on the same site.
It’s sad news for the people of Shah Alam as the stadium helps to define the landscape and identity of Selangor as a whole – and its size is a point of pride too.
Demolishing and building another stadium, albeit with a reduced capacity, will cost millions of ringgit that could be put to better use, such as investing in the pandemic-affected economy.
I believe it would be much better to modify the structure to create a public park instead, which would cost less. The stadium’s structure can be reinforced and retrofitted to make it stronger and unnecessary parts, such as office and washroom spaces, can be stripped away.
The stadium’s concrete “bowl” can be planted with greenery and fitted with an elevated walkway as a tourist attraction offering views of Shah Alam and even Kuala Lumpur. Parts of this section can be used for community gardens to help with food security for Shah Alam residents.
The running track and field can be retained so that the space can also be used as a venue for concerts and other events such as Ramadan bazaars. The retained track and field area would also attract fitness enthusiasts in the area who need a place for exercise.
Preserving the stadium structure as a public park not only reduces cost but also creates a new green space and adds value to the surrounding area. As the stadium is located next to one of the stations for the LRT line, people from further away, such as Klang and Petaling Jaya, could also use the stadium for exercise, hence supporting a healthy lifestyle.
Property values around the stadium would probably increase, allowing developers to capitalise on the presence of a green recreational space, and this, in turn, would stimulate the economy.
The preservation of the stadium structure would also pay tribute to the Selangor football team and its legacy. A new home would, of course, have to be found for the team.
Turning abandoned or disused facilities into public parks is not something new.
A stretch of elevated highway in Seoul was turned into a park called Seoullo 7017 in 2017. The structure was closed because it was deemed structurally unsound, just like the Shah Alam Stadium. It was retrofitted and turned into a public park for everyone to enjoy and is now a tourist attraction.
In 2009, New York City did something similar: it began converting a railway viaduct into the now famous High Line park, while Paris repurposed a railway bridge into the Promenade Plantee in 1993.
There are also many examples of stadiums in Europe and the United States being turned into public parks without demolishing the original structure. There are currently three active proposals from Spain, Turkey and the United States to repurpose stadiums as gardens, which costs less than demolition.
Apart from costing a lot of money, it would take at least seven years to demolish the Shah Alam Stadium and build a new stadium on the existing site. Given the current economic situation, it would be wiser to repurpose it, efficiently re-using an old structure for the greater good of the community.
LAU WEI YIANG
Puchong, Selangor
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