Dubai
We have been living in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) for the past 10 years and it is a popular area for families to reside. More residents are moving in to the area and it is becoming a flourishing community with shops and other services slowly improving. However, one major concern is that there are not enough recreational facilities for the thousands of families living in DSO.
There is not a single playground or a public park and children do not have a place to play. We are forced to take our children on the weekends to places that are far away, like Zabeel Park.
People have raised their concerns with the DSO authorities, but nothing has happened. The nation is promoting healthy living, but DSO authorities are turning a blind eye to the needs of the families living in the area.
One of my neighbours, Ather Seddiqi, has also observed the same. He said: “I have been living in the area for five years now and this is a part of Dubai, which is a beautiful emirate with all the required facilities. However, there is no park here for our children and we miss this facility.”
Subia Sayeed, another resident of the area, is also concerned about this issue. When I spoke to her, she expressed how important such facilities would be for all the children living in the community as it would mean spending more time outdoors, which is necessary.
She said: “The small lawn patches around internal roundabouts are the only areas children can get some space to run about. While the two mosques took more than five years of letter writing to the authorities to be built, I am hoping this need of a larger number of families will be addressed sooner and I hope that the authorities will provide a park and a playground soon.”
Everytime we call DSO they only assure us that there is a plan for a park, but this hasn’t materialised yet. I request them to take our requests into consideration and let those children play outdoors in the evening and on weekends. I have two teenager at home and they cannot do anything in the evening except play on their gaming console and I don’t think this is very good for their health. DSO has a good layout for walking, but children need a more open space to play.
— The reader is based in Dubai.
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The reader’s concerns were raised with the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority. They immediately investigated and responded positively.
They stated: “Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) holds high regards for Gulf News as a respectable publication renowned for its accurate coverage. With regards to the note from our long-time resident, we would like to draw his attention to our public park that spans 9,129 square metres and is located next to the Seven Towers residential project in Dubai Silicon Oasis, on the Dubai-Al Ain road. This park has within it a lawn, a children’s play area and a basketball court — all adjacent to one another and surrounded by an all-weather running track with a rubberised surface similar to that used in athletic track and field.
The play area comprises a set of swings, a slide, a jungle gym and a play house. We invite the family of the concerned reader to visit the area and enjoy a day out with fellow members of the community. We also wish to reassure our residents and tenants that as the population at Dubai Silicon Oasis grows, we will increase our recreational offerings within the premises.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to address the query. We wish the reader’s family a long and satisfying residency at Dubai Silicon Oasis, and sincerely hope his children enjoy discovering our park.
