Saudi Arabia has started work on four major well-being projects in Riyadh, which is being implemented as part of an ambitious urban planning and civil engineering program to transform the kingdom’s capital into one of the most livable cities in the world, according to Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).
The four major projects – King Salman Park, Sports Boulevard, Green Riyadh and Riyadh Art – being developed at an investment of $23 billion, will help enhance the lives of the 7 million residents of the city, stated RCRC, formally known as Riyadh Development Authority.
Of these, the first project is a prestigious one for the whole region. Once completed, King Salman Park will be the largest city park in the world, covering a 13.4 sq km area, four times the size of Central Park in New York.
Sports Boulevard will be a state-of-the-art new health and wellness destination in the heart of the city, providing a network of cycle routes and adding an impressive 135 km of professional cycling track.
Green Riyadh is a citywide greening initiative which includes the planting of 7.5 million trees. The project will help lower the temperature of the city by 2°C and provide welcome shade, allowing residents to walk and exercise outside, stated RCRC.
And the final project, Riyadh Art will establish the city as ‘a gallery without walls’ through a world-class interactive public arts program. The project will curate 1,000 pieces of art through world-class art programs and host an annual art festival.
These four transformative projects, managed by the RCRC, complement the Saudi Vision 2030 ‘Quality of Life’ Programme and are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to create sustainable cities and communities while driving urgent action against climate change, it added.
According to RCRC, these projects will deliver huge social, economic and environmental benefits to the city and create many jobs.
Construction of King Salman Park alone will generate around 50,000 jobs to completion, and then thousands more service jobs ongoing stated the Commission.
Tourism will flourish in a city that will become a destination of choice, not only for business but also for leisure. And families will thrive with improved mobility, a better environment, and greater opportunities to experience art and culture, it added.
“Life is changing for the residents of Riyadh. In line with government reforms in education, healthcare, and tourism, we are pushing forward with the diversification and development plans for the city,” remarked a spokesman for RCRC.
“The goals of Vision 2030 are coming to fruition and massive infrastructure projects such as these will have significant positive implications for our social tapestry and cultural wellbeing,” he added.
TradeArabia News Service
25/09/2019
