King Abdulaziz Park Development Project Underway in Riyadh
A three-year project to transform King Abdulaziz Park in Riyadh has been launched after a design competition concluded, as announced by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City on Wednesday.
Green Oasis in the Capital City
The winning design, chosen from submissions by four international companies, will see the park expand to cover approximately 4.3 million sq. meters. One of the highlights of the design is the central Botanic Garden, spanning 200,000 sq. meters and showcasing over 200 species of local plants.
Part of the Green Riyadh initiative, the enhanced park will be situated in the north of the city, near key landmarks such as King Khalid International Airport, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, and a train station.
Sustainable Features and Recreational Spaces
A key feature of the new design is the Munsiyah Tributary, a branch of the Al-Sulai valley running through the park for 11 km. The plan also includes sustainable commercial buildings and a 2 km pathway overlooking these structures.
Over 2 million trees and shrubs will provide shade throughout the park, with an irrigation system using recycled water to support their growth.
Enhancing Quality of Life
The park will offer terraces, squares, open theaters for events, restaurants, as well as 24 children’s areas and 30 sports zones. Khaled Al-Bakr, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, emphasized the importance of parks in enhancing residents’ quality of life.
According to Al-Bakr, the development of parks like King Abdulaziz Park is part of the city’s transformation, aligning with the goals of the Green Riyadh and Vision 2030 initiatives.
Expanding Green Spaces Across Riyadh
In addition to King Abdulaziz Park, other green spaces like Al-Urubah, Al Munsiyah, Al Qadisiyah, and Al-Rimmal parks, as well as planting along major roads, are already in progress. An extensive irrigation network spanning 1,350 km has been established to support these new green areas.