Dialogue Session Discusses Role of Parks in Improving Quality of Life in Omani Cities

Muscat, 9 Oct
(ONA) — As part of the events of an exhibition and conference co-themed “Home and Building Expo ”, a dialogue session was held today about the role of parks
in developing cities and improving the quality of life.

The events, which took place at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat, saw the
participation of directors-general of municipalities from different
governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.

During the
panel discussion, the participants exchanged views about the importance of
integrating parks into urban planning, with the objective of diminishing pollution,
improving public health and fostering social solidarity.

The session
also reviewed the challenges facing municipalities in allocating land within
densely populated cities, ways to achieve a balance between urban expansion and
the preservation of green spaces and successful projects in the governorates to optimize the use of urban landscape.

The session touched
on a number of related topics related to: Enhancing identity in garden design
by highlighting the governorates’ geographical and environmental diversity; using
local plants to promote environmental sustainability; cutting down water
consumption; and leveraging local terrain and climate to design to grant gardens
a distinct character in each region (coastal, mountainous or desert
environments).

The session also
addressed the latest practices in smart irrigation, energy-efficient lighting
and digital maintenance systems. It also elaborated on the importance of digital
surveyance of the performance of parks to ensure their sustainability, as well
as future plans to expand the scope of smart green spaces in Omani cities.

The participants
expressed the common view that parks can serve as tourist attractions and open centres
for community interactions that boost the activation of social life and the
development of environmental awareness. They called for measures to establish
partnerships between the private sector and the local community to develop efficient
practices in maintaining parks and utilize them as spaces for cultural,
sporting and recreational activities.

—
Ends/Bishara/AG