An air conditioned outdoor walking and jogging track at Umm Al Seneem Park. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha: The number of public parks in Qatar reached 148 in 2022 from 56 in 2010, recording 164 percent growth.
Green spaces in the country also increased to more than 43 million square meters in 2022, from about 2.5 million square meters in 2010.
The per capita share of the green area rose to 16 square meters from less than one square meter in 2010, with an increase of 16 folds.
The millionth tree was planted recently as part of Plant Million Tree initiative which was launched in 2019.
Director of the Public Parks Department, Muhammad Ali Al Khouri, said in a recent statement that a number of public parks opened in 2022 such as Umm Al Seneem and Rawdat Al Khail and Panda House Park
He said that many parks were renovated and expanded services during this year to receive fans of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
On November 1, 2022 Umm Al Seneem Park, with the largest air-conditioned jogging tracks in the world, was opened in Umm Al Seneem, Al Rayan Municipality, setting a Guinness World Record.
The 1,143-metre-long air-conditioned jogging tracks received the title of Guinness World Records for the ‘longest air-conditioned outdoor path’ on October 17, 2022.
The jogging tracks, ensuring temperatures of about 26 degree Celsius aim at encouraging people to visit parks and stay and exercise.
Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said that Umm Al Seneem Park, spread over more than 130,000sqm, is part of an initiative of the Ministry to improve the quality of life by increasing green spaces in Qatar.
“We have increased the green spaces in the country over 10 times, compared to 2010 by building parks, landscaping and green areas,” said the Minister. He said that public parks are equipped with fitness machines, children play areas and jogging trackers, including some of them air-conditioned for the comfort of visitors.
“The parks have been built following sustainability goals to cut the carbon footprint and provide fresh air to visitors,” said the Minister, adding that the efforts will continue to open more new parks in near future.
The Director of Public Parks Department said that the jogging tracks of Umm Al Seneem Park has been registered in the Guinness World Records and an official certificate for the title of the record was issued by the officials.
The Umm Al Seneem Park was developed by the Public Works Authority (Ahghal) in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality.
The park, stretching over an area of 130,105sqm, can accommodate about 6,000 visitors per day. The green spaces of the park cover 68 percent of total areas, 88,400sqm dotted with 912 trees of 18 types, including 75 local trees and 820sqm long green walls.
The park includes many important facilities, including the outdoor air-conditioned jogging-track for running and walking with a length of 1,143 metres, which is in a circular shape around the park.
On April 10, 2022 Rawdat Al Khail Park was opened in Al Muntazah. The park, in an area of 140,000sqm, is one of the largest in the country featuring walkways, jogging track, cycle way, children’s play areas, fitness, barbecue, green areas, trees and other services for visitors.
Assistant Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality, Mansour Abdullah Al Mahmoud, said that Rawdat Al Khail Park is part of the efforts of the Ministry in building and developing public parks and picnicking places across the municipalities, to provide healthy, recreational and tourist places for people.
He said that it is one of the oldest parks in Qatar and thus of great importance for citizens and residents who have special bonds with it for decades. Rawdat Al Khail Park offers 1,183 metres long walkways, 1,119 metres jogging track, 1,118 metres cycling path, 98,000sqm green areas, 1,600 trees, 40 bike racks, fitness areas with fitness equipment.
The children’s play areas are divided according to the age groups – 2 to 5 years old and 6 to 12 years old and a dedicated play area for children with special needs.
Director of Doha Municipality, Mansour Ajran Al Buainain, said that the park represents an important addition to the recreational and tourist facilities and landmarks that contribute in enhancing the services provided by Doha Municipality to citizens, residents, visitors and tourists.
The Panda House Park opened on November 17, 2022 in Al Khor city housing two giant pandas — ‘Thuraya’ and ‘Suhail’ — who arrived from China ahead of the World Cup.
Panda House Park, is a 120,000sqm state-of-the-art facility, beside Al Khor Family Park in Al Khor, 35km from Doha.
