Safety at PJ park improved with new walkway, CCTV
FACILITIES including the walkway and basketball court at Taman Sunwaymas in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, have been upgraded to improve safety and encourage active use among nearby residents.
The park, located along Jalan PJU1/3A near a bustling commercial area and surrounded by neighbourhoods such as Aman Suria, Kampung Cempaka, SS25 and Bukit Mayang, serves a population of around 13,000.
It is popular among senior citizens who visit the park in the mornings.
Among its regular visitors is Chan Lin Chow, 68, from SS25, who practises tai chi four to five times a week.
'Before the upgrade, the court had sand and cracks that made it slippery and dangerous.
'Now we feel safer and more confident exercising, even at 6am,' he said.
The upgrade works by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) included resurfacing and repainting the basketball court, the construction of a 218m pedestrian walkway and refurbishment of the existing gazebo.
Kampung Cempaka village chief Theresa Lim said the improvements had a direct impact on the park's elderly users.
'Most of the park's visitors are aged 60 and above.
'The smoother surfaces make it easier to exercise and have brought more people to the park, encouraging a healthier lifestyle,' she said.
MBPJ Zone 7 councillor Leong Chee Cheng said the upgrades were carried out from Feb 3 to May 26 at a cost of RM164,365, approved by the city council's Landscape Department.
'To improve security, two CCTV cameras have been installed,' he said.
Leong said the surface of the basketball court had gradually sunk over the years due to ground conditions, but has been fully repaired.
The contractor who completed the basketball court repair and upgrades handed the site back to MBPJ on June 25, and the city council has been monitoring its condition since.
The project is part of MBPJ's broader initiative to improve public parks in Zone 7 as part of Petaling Jaya's smart city goals.
'To date, 17 parks including Taman Sunwaymas have been upgraded.
'Next, we will focus on upgrading the public park in Jalan SS4C/20,' Leong added.
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