BY SHEILA SRI PRIYA

The council may use coloured premix tar at this location and add the signage to the Taman Bandaran Kelana Jaya just like in this artist’s impression.

TAMAN Bandaran Kelana Jaya will be undergoing major upgrade works this year, with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) setting aside a budget of RM1.5mil for the project.

The 42ha park, also known as Kelana Jaya park, was in a deplorable state with several abandoned structures in it.

MBPJ landscape director Zuraidah Sainan said the park would be beautified and youth-related sporting facilities would be installed to attract more visitors.

She said the park, which is next to the council’s swimming pool and the Kelana Jaya stadium, would also incorporate a “Parkour Park”.

This facility will include sporting- related equipment and infrastructure suitable for parkour, which is an activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area while negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing.

However, the council was still open to public feedback and urged those interested to send their ideas via www.facebook.com/Taman-Bandaran-946898572066431.

“We want to provide facilities that interest the public. We want to hear their views and would consider implementing suitable ideas,” Zuraidah said.

Zuraidah says this portion of the park will be beautified to make it suitable as a venue for outdoor events.

Besides the recreational facilities, the council hopes the park could become a popular garden wedding spot.

The upgrade works would take place in stages and it is estimated that works could start in May and be completed by the year end.

The vacant and vandalised restaurant will be converted to an open hall.

“We will break the walls of the structure but retain the roof. It will become a space where you can organise events such as wedding receptions,” Zuraidah said.

As for the abandoned fountain, the structure will be retrofitted into a stage.

The council has been hosting the powerboat challenge competition in the lake for the past few years and a stage would complement such events.

There are also plans to include a half-court basketball venue, an outdoor gym and table tennis facilities.

Zuraidah added that the walkways and footpaths in the park would be widened, while the public toilets would be upgraded.

The abandoned fountain will be retrofitted into a stage as part of the upgrade. — Photos: Art Chen/The Star

Several other abandoned buildings in the park such as the Medan Selera and mini-food kiosks would either be demolished or retrofitted with the help of other MBPJ departments.

According to Zuraidah, the park had been a mining area in the past but by the 1980s, it was mostly abandoned.

In 1991, the area was developed for recreational use by the council and the lakes were converted into retention ponds.

“There was only topsoil here. When it rained, the whole area turned muddy and during the hot season, the soil would harden just like cement,” she said.

Over the years, layers of suitable soil were dumped over the existing topsoil and the park is now home to some 100 species of plants.

Previously, only Acacia trees could survive there.

The park attracts thousands of visitors yearly and is frequented by families and joggers, especially on weekends.

In the next five years, visitors can look forward to seeing 50 Tecoma trees with flowers in various shades of pink blooming between August and October.

“We have planted the trees but it takes about five years for them to mature.

“When the trees start flowering, we expect them to be seen from as far as the LDP,” Zuraidah said.

Sahabat Taman Kelana Jaya secretary and SS7 Lengkuk Golf Residents’ Association chairman Esham Salam welcomed the allocation for the park, saying it was a timely move.

He said the park attracted thousands of visitors, mostly families on the weekends and joggers during the week.

Esham hoped the council would not allow any more food businesses to operate from the park.

“The former food business added pollution to the lake. People come here for recreational purposes and not to dine,” he said.

He also wanted the council to install more lights in the park as the area was poorly lit.

Esham hoped the water quality at the retention ponds would improve so that lake activities such as boating could take place here.