Dubai Says Will Have Disabled-Friendly Parks By 2016

Dubai Municipality has announced plans to make parks in the emirate more disabled-friendly by 2016.

The civic body revealed that it will begin restructuring all major parks in Dubai to make them more accessible for disabled people, official news agency WAM reported.

Work on the project is due to start in October and is expected to take two years to complete.

The initial phase will be implemented at Al Mamzar Beach Park and Jumeirah Beach Park, the report said.

In the long-term, the project will see parks have playing equipment installed for children with special-needs. Appropriate toilet facilities and parking spaces for disabled drivers will also be provided.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality, said: “The project will cover all major public and residential parks and the move is aimed at giving disabled children a place to play and help them mingle with society in all fields of life.

“Disabled people will be given free access to all major parks, and wheelchairs will be available for them to use.”

The move is part of the Dubai government’s strategic goal to be one of the most-friendly cities in the world for people with special needs by 2020.

Lootah added: “Dubai Municipality has paid great attention to special needs by setting requirements for the city’s buildings and public facilities, including parks, streets and markets, as well as by holding activities that aim to reach out to and enable the integration of people with special needs.”