By JADE CHAN

The 0.24ha park has a clean, simple and functional concept. Different trees were planted to provide shade, function as a layer of privacy for residents, and add colour to the park.

DAMANSARA Kim residents, particularly those whose homes are along Jalan SS20/10, will soon get to enjoy a linear park located on a green space sandwiched between the road and Jalan Damansara.

Petaling Jaya city councillor Jamaliah Jamaluddin said developer Glomac Bhd signed a pledge to take on the landscaping of the site as its corporate social responsibility initiative when it started on its mixed development project along Jalan Damansara.

“The representatives from Glomac and the Landscape Department of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) were in discussion about it since 2011, but the project was delayed due to various reasons.

“Following complaints from residents, I followed up on this project until it was completed recently,” said Jamaliah.

She was speaking with reporters after announcing the completion of a landscape beautification project on the 0.24ha site on Wednesday.

In addition to beautifying the site, Jamaliah said the project served to clear an undergrowth that was used as an illegal dump site and to provide privacy to SS20 residents.

MBPJ Landscape Department deputy director Dr Badrulzaman Jaafar said Glomac would maintain the park for half a year, before handing it over to the council.

“MBPJ may later plan for additional items to be installed to make the park more conducive, such as a ramp or steps, benches, more plants or structures to make it a safer place.

“The council hopes more developers would consider adopting such projects too,” he said.

Shah, PK & Associates landscape consultant Shah Amri Mohd Saud said it would take three years for the trees planted in the 300m-long park to fully mature.

“The landscaping has a clean, simple and functional concept. We incorporated different local trees for different functions.

“The tembusu tikus (fagrea elliptica) will provide shade to pedestrians along the walkway, while the pink trumpet tree or tecoma (tabebuia pentaphylla) is a flowering tree that will add colour to the park.

“Meanwhile, the kelat paya (eugenia oleina) will function as a screen to provide a layer of privacy for residents,” said Shah Amri.

“Moving forward, I hope local councils and developers would consider a more sustainable development when it comes to landscape, traffic and infrastructure,” said Damansara Utama assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin.

“This project is an example of how softscape and greenery can be used in town planning and making cities more liveable.”

SS20 Rukun Tetangga chairman Eileen Thong said the site where the park was located was previously a spot for illegal garbage dumping and landslip.

“The residents had to deal with these problems for years, so we are very pleased and grateful with the improvements.

“However, we do have our reservations on the maintenance and frequency of use for the park, as we don’t want people to loiter too long or affect the residents’ safety,” she said.

WH San, whose house is located along Jalan SS20/10, is happy that the park would serve to filter dust and air pollution while providing privacy for his household.