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Community parks to have swimming pools and gyms

DUBAI - All community parks in Dubai will soon have state-of-the-art gymnasiums and swimming pools for both men and women, Ahmad Abdul Karim, Director of the Public Parks and Horticulture Department at the Dubai Municipality, said on Tuesday.

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A municipality source said anyone wishing to use the gymnasium and swimming pool facilities will have to first register as a member paying a certain fee.

Abdul Karim said the civic body is also considering increasing the entry fee at certain public parks based on the services provided but he did not reveal the amount of increase.

'We are working in line with our strategic plans which aim to expand the green areas in the emirate. At present, there are 28 community parks in areas like Umm Suqeim, Twar-1, Twar-3, Al Barsha and Rashidiya. These parks are slightly smaller than our public parks and the entry is free. The community parks are specially for people residing in the major residential areas. We are planning gymnasiums for men and women in these parks. Talks are also on to set up swimming pools. The dates for beginning the construction will be announced soon,' he said.

Dubai currently has four types of parks - public parks, pond or lake parks, neighbourhood parks and community parks.

Abdul Karim said, 'Our first priority is to increase the number of parks in the emirate as well as improve the facilities offered. The fee hike will be based on the services provided in these parks, he said.

'Apart from the existing parks, the civic body has plans to add at least 90 parks in the emirate by the end of 2009. There are five public parks at the moment and their number will increase to 30 by 2009. The number of neighbourhood parks is 52 now and 40 more such parks would be built by 2009. There will also be 10 more pond parks in the emirate,' Karim said.

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