Author(s)

A Abdullah, B Bahauddin, B Mohamed & K Abbas

Abstract

Public parks have come a long way since the early days of the nineteenth century. One of the most significant functions of an urban park is to provide an open space for the public to unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life. The famous Central Park in New York, epitomises such idea. In a city where the ratio of open space per population is still low compared to many western cities, the birth of KLCC Park in Kuala Lumpur creates a sigh of relief to many Malaysians. Not only does the park provide green open space for the benefit of the public in an otherwise concrete jungle, its abundant plant species encourage bio-diversity and act as a haven for birds and other local fauna. Located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s golden triangle, the KLCC Park starkly contrasts with its surrounding. However, the idea of having a park in the middle of Kuala Lumpur has not received full approval from some quarters of the society. Much of the criticism was towards the choice of site and the huge construction and maintenance cost of the project. To them, it was simply not economical. The recent 1997 economic slump did not help with its cause either. Based on interviews and a survey of 300 respondents, this paper examines the benefits of having an open space in a business district and how it can spur better business. The findings also indicate that the extent to which KLCC Park enhances business opportunities to the surrounding area should not be perceived solely in monetary terms. The provision of open space helps reduce congestion, which is important for the well being of the public. It also ensures that the future generation would not be deprived of such vital space in tandem with the concept of sustainability. 1 Introduction \“Urban public park” is generally referred to as an open space or area of land, laid out primarily or the benefit of the public amidst essentially urban surroundings.

Keywords