SHAH ALAM, 22 Aug: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will explore the concept of Garden City as a method to be adopted in its development planning to ensure that the residents in PJ enjoy a safe, comfortable and healthy life.

The Mayor, Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad, said that MBPJ will realise the desire under the Green Corridor Network Action Plan to take into account public parks, forest reserves, utility reserves, river reserves and electric towers.

She said that the symbiotic relationship of green areas and built-up areas should be brought closer to achieve sustainable development.

“The function of the green areas is as a provider of biodiversity, oxygen cycle, habitat and the comfort of humans that needs to be preserved.

“Every open space (greenbelt) will be connected to form a network of open spaces called the Park Connectors Network,” she said.

The Park Connectors Network is an element in the PJ Community Green Corridor and it is a network of open spaces that connects major public parks, environmental areas and housing areas to ensure that the interests of flora and fauna are protected.

Based on a report by MURNInets or the sustainable urban measurement, MBPJ has reached 2.4 hectares for 1,000 residents for the provision of open space.

The standard set is two hectares for 1,000 Park Connectors residents which also includes other uses of land like drainage reserves, foreshore and road reserves, where the areas are made into beautiful recreation centres.

Alinah said that Park Connectors also serve as a connector and provides convenience to the residents for jogging, walking and cycling within two to 10 kilometres to reach another park.

“In addition, it is also used of a shortcut (to residential areas, MRT stations and school),” she said.

The implementation of the Green Corridor covers an area of 1,555 hectares, comprising of 464 open spaces and community forests like the Bukit Gasing Educational Forest and the Kota Damansara Community Forest.

NS