15-year-old Kuwaiti aims to renovate Al Abraj Park ---By Passant Hisham

Ambitious student project named ‘Rethinking Aladailiya’ seeks to revamp one of the oldest parks KUWAIT: If someone wishes to change the world, they should always start with themselves. With that purpose in mind, a 15-year-old student with a passion for architecture decided to take the initiative and develop one of the most iconic parks in Kuwait, located in the heart of the Capital governorate — Al Abraj Park in Adailiya. Disappointed with the park’s outdated designs, abandoned services and neglected irrigation system, Ahmed Al-Dousari created a comprehensive renovation plan for it. “I remember how I used to visit this park every weekend when I was a child. Just observing how its quality kept declining over the years made me feel so sad,” Dousari said on the key motive behind his idea. The idea initially originated as a school project that Dousari undertook in the 10th grade, but evolved into a vision that he aspires to bring to life. Inspired by world-class parks, Dousari displayed an initial 2D design that he created with the guidance of his teachers and the support of his family, showing a clear development in many aspects of the park. Greenery Dousari sadly described the overall state of the park’s greenery. “The grass is half-brown, and the trees are almost dead.” In response, he advocates for the implementation of a proper irrigation system, recognizing the vital role greenery plays as one of the most crucial components of any urban park. Simultaneously, he expressed his desire to increase the number of trees in the park to use them as natural shade against the harsh sun and create a more visually appealing landscape, thereby attracting more visitors. Dousari specifically highlighted the importance of adding more palm trees, as he believes they are a great reflection of Arab heritage and can perfectly grow in the warm and sunny conditions of Kuwait. Children’s play area “All the play equipment is very old and of very low quality. Even when they’re broken, they don’t get fixed,” Dousari remarked. The play area seemed very outdated as an option for entertainment for the current generation, so he focused on modernizing the rides and make them accessible for all kids, even disabled ones, as well as introducing synthetic rubber flooring to protect children. In order to incorporate more shade into the designs, he introduced a retractable roof for the play area, serving as a shield against the scorching heat of Kuwait. Dousari also plans to shift the play area far from the entrance to keep the visitors who initially entered the park away from the children’s noise and chaos. Water fountain The water fountain, once serving as the main common area for people, became an abandoned fountain that rarely works, Dousari noted. Therefore, he plans to transform this area into a coffee place, including comfortable seating and shade from the sun as well, with all materials made from glass and reclaimed wood for a more ecofriendly approach. Restrooms The restrooms, which look outdated in design and are malfunctioning, are one of the most irritating elements in the park, according to Dousari. So, he plans to revamp them into a more eye-pleasing design and a stronger structure, also created from reclaimed wood. Encouraging a more active lifestyle To create a more fitness-friendly environment, Dousari desires to add some extra touches reflected in the padel and tennis court that he created in the design, serving as an attractive source of entertainment for teenagers, in addition to the pre-existing football court. He also plans to add a running track made from synthetic rubber to make it more convenient for runners, instead of the existing concrete track. Call to action To implement this project successfully, Dousari needs some guidance in modifying the current 2D plan and an expert in AutoCAD to help in creating the 3D plan. He’s reaching out for support from the ministry of social affairs, ministry of public works, Public Authority of Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources and Adaliya Cooperative Society to provide him with a team of engineering experts. Once his idea gets approved by the government, he is planning to work on setting an accurate budget and timeline for the project. He’s also calling for more awareness and support from the Kuwaiti community. Dousari believes the park has great potential that can be maximized, due to its large capacity and attractive location, but there’s just a need to spotlight it.