Abu Dhabi municipality surveys residents about leisure facilities

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi municipality is conducting a survey among residents to seek input about leisure facilities in the city.

Some residents said they are happy their opinions are being sought and said they are keen to see the municipality implement their suggestions.

Marwa Altaf, 28, an Egyptian homemaker, was delighted that she got a chance to express her views to improve the city where she was born and raised.

"I am satisfied with the number of parks in the city but we need more provisions for children in the parks, like mechanical trains. We need more theme parks too," she told Gulf News at the Family Park on the corniche on Tuesday evening after responding to the survey team of a private agency engaged by the municipality.

She said she likes Al Mamzar Park and Wild Wadi water park in Dubai.

"We want such facilities in Abu Dhabi too," she said.

Dogs

Sami Al Suwaidi, an Emirati government employee, said he is mostly satisfied with the leisure facilities in the city.

"We need more facilities for barbecue and shisha," he said.

He also suggested banning the entry of dogs into parks.

Deepika Sudheer, an Indian yoga instructor who has been living in the city for 23 years, suggested more space be allocated for exercise in parks.

"There is such space on the corniche, but I think we need more such space to attract more people," she said.

The survey began on October 30 and will be conducted over five weeks, said Awaida Al Qubaisi, acting executive director of municipal services at the municipality.

It is designed to encourage residents to participate in a quick interview and give their opinion on parks, beaches and other community services, she said.

"We know open spaces and community facilities are of real importance to city dwellers and a valuable boost to quality of life in the urban environment," Awaida said.

"Information like this will provide us with a far better knowledge of what people need, like and want from their public spaces and help us provide the quality of service to which Municipality of Abu Dhabi City is so committed."

What leisure facilities would you like to see being built in Abu Dhabi? Do you have any suggestions on how to improve existing facilities?