Al Daayen Park’s design draws inspiration from the Arabic word Al-Daayen, which implies camel beauty and the resting place of caravans, said Maryam Al Kuwari, project design manager at the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar.
Decades ago, Al-Daayen had been a resting spot for caravans coming from the north and south of Qatar.
Kuwari said for Qatar-Tribune that aesthetic lighting is another feature of the park that honors its link to the Qatari heritage. She told the illumination arrangement was so that the light falls on metal partitions to create shades that depict the caravan’s movement behind its herdsman. Memorial photos are placed on spots where the light falls, giving a distinctive outlook to the park.
The park design, Kuwari noted, also factored in its proximity to schools and Al Daayen Service Centre, making it a suitable nearby place for people of the region to spend leisure time during the weekend or engage in physical activities.
Saeed Al Yafei, Student Affairs Officer at Simaisma Primary School for Boys, said, “Tree planting, increasing green spaces, and preserving the environment are basic values we are trying to instill in students through the educational process.”
Mariam Ateeq Al Qubaisi, Laboratory Attendant at Al Daayen Primary and Preparatory School for Girls, said, “I loved participating in tree plantation today in Al Daayen Park as part of our efforts to enrich Qatar’s environment and to encourage students to love agriculture by planting trees in the park, leaving their footprint on the land of Qatar.”
Completion of main works on Al Daayen Park Project
The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar has announced the completion of main works on the Al Daayen Park Project, during an event on November 4 with the participation of students from Simaisma and Al Daayen Schools. They planted trees in the park, as part of the “Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees” campaign to “plant a million trees,” implemented by the Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality.
On this occasion, Brigadier General Hilal bin Saad Al Muhannadi, Director of North Security Department, said: “Al Daayen Park will be a landmark for the people of the region, providing them an outlet for exercise and fun for residential neighborhoods and visitors of the area. It is a new addition to the many and increasing public parks in various parts of the State.”
Eng. Sarah Kafood, Deputy Chairman of Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, stated that she is happy with the growing success of the Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees campaign, with a record tree planting of more than 550,000 trees so far. She highlighted that this benchmark achievement was not possible without the participation of many entities in the public and private sectors.
Eng. Sara added that the Committee is cooperating with the Ministry of Municipality to increase green spaces in various areas in Qatar. Thus, large-scale land areas are allocated to build central parks, while smaller spaces are allocated to Al Furjan Parks and green plaza. These projects provide healthy outlets in city centers, encouraging people to enjoy their leisure outside closed buildings. Besides, these spaces enhance the aesthetic view of places and streets, and improve the quality of the environment.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Municipality had allocated land with an approximate area of 39,000 square meters to construct a new park in Al Daayen Municipality, to serve residential neighborhoods in the area.
For his part, Mr. Saeed Al Yafei, Student Affairs Officer at Simaisma Primary School for Boys, said, “tree planting, increasing green spaces, and preserving the environment are basic values we are trying to instill in students through the educational process.”
Ms. Mariam Ateeq Al Qubaisi, Laboratory Attendant at Al Daayen Primary & Preparatory School for Girls, said: “I loved participating in tree plantation today in Al Daayen Park as part of our efforts to enrich Qatar’s environment and to encourage students to love agriculture by planting trees in the park, leaving their footprint on the land of Qatar.”
Eng. Maryam Al Kuwari, Project Design Manager at the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar at Ashghal, said that the park’s design is inspired by the meaning of the Arabic word Al-Daayen, which implies camel beauty and the resting place of caravans in the past, in addition to its location in Al-Daayen area in the northern part of Qatar, which was considered as a resting spot for caravans coming from the north or south of Qatar. The design also considered the park’s proximity to schools and Al Daayen Service Center, using it as a suitable nearby place for people of the region to spend leisure time during weekends or practice physical exercise after a stressful day.
She added that fancy lighting was added in the design, covering the service buildings to enhance the design concept of the park linking it to the Qatari identity with shining lights on metal partitions to reflect shades, and depicting the movement of caravan behind its herdsman. The fancy lights also serve also provide a unique spot for memorial photos, besides giving a distinctive outlook to the park.
Al Daayen Park includes open green spaces with an area of 25,000 square meters, with benches and retiring facilities, along with 450 trees, making it a preferred visit space for families of Al Daayen and Simaisma. It also includes dedicated kids’ play areas, a sports arena, and dedicated paths for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. The park is also designed to be user-friendly for people with special needs.
The project also included the provision of services, including a female prayer area and toilets. Aesthetic lights with dimly lit lighting poles ensure privacy for the visitors. It is worth noting that visitors to the park can use Al Daayen Municipality parking lots, with 50 parking lots, and more parking lots are in the pipeline.
“Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees” Campaign to “Plant Million Trees”
The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads & Public Places in Qatar has launched the campaign on 28 September 2019, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality. The campaign is in line with the efforts of Qatar for development and environmental sustainability within the fourth pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 that aims at achieving harmony and integration between economic and social development, protection, and preservation of the environment for future generations.
The campaign aims to involve kids of Qatar and residents in planting One Million trees across the country, primarily to emphasize that protection and preservation of the environment is everyone’s social responsibility. The initiative also aims to increase green areas and improve quality of life through environmental protection.
Since its launch, many governmental and private entities of Qatar have been active in the campaign. Participation of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education is worthwhile as many school students from different levels of education have been involved in planting trees in many places and project sites, educating students about the importance of planting trees.
Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar
The Committee works in coordination with several ministries and entities in Qatar such as the Ministry of Municipality, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Culture, Qatar Museums Authority, Qatar Railway Company, Private Engineering Office, and others. It aims to humanize cities with its vision to create a balance between people and the environment and change the car-dominated culture into a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly culture. The Committee’s primary responsibility is to provide public services and spaces that promote a healthier lifestyle, aiming to achieve a joint vision with other common stakeholders.
To achieve our common goal, the committee works hand in hand with them to increase the number of green areas in cities and residential neighborhoods, provide safe lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, and develop outdoor leisure destinations such as plazas and public parks, and beaches. This is in addition to developing Central Doha and the Corniche. Furthermore, we work on developing the public realm by adding street furniture, bicycle parking spaces, and adding decorative street lighting, as well as displaying artworks and sculptures to enhance outdoor spaces.
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