Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Neglected and unfinished parks in several districts of Jeddah have become safe havens for criminals to carry out drug dealing and other illegal activities, Makkah reported. In particular, Jeddah Municipality started carrying out work on three parks by growing grass and plants on them and setting up water tanks, before leaving them unfinished. This has caused concern among local residents because the parks have reportedly attracted criminals. Jeddah Municipality member Abdullah Turkistani said the park projects are not being maintained by concerned teams in the local authority. He added that the feedback of the local residents have been referred to the concerned authorities for their consideration. The first park is located in Al-Nuzha District, north Jeddah, neighboring Al-Iman Mosque. Abdulrahman Al-Afandi, local resident, said the park has turned into a garbage dumping area. Also, the parking lots for picnickers' cars have become spaces for trucks that drive from one side of the park to the other. Al-Afandi added: “The park was neglected gradually after the mosque was demolished. “The fence was wrecked and the area became a garbage dumping ground and a den for all kinds of violations and illegal practices. “Instead of being of benefit to the residents of the district, it became a source for the spread of violations of all kinds. “Earlier we submitted a complaint to the mayor, head of municipality and the governor's office on the bad situation in the park, but our efforts were in vain.” He wanted the street in front of his house to be closed off because it had become dangerous for his family. The second park is located in Al-Rawabi District, south Jeddah, next to Ibn Al-Qayyim Mosque. Ali Al-Sheikhi, local resident, said: “The park has turned into a dangerous den due to the lack of facilities. “It was left empty and open to the youth who gather in the park till late at night. “It has provided a place for them to carry out their illegal acts away from the eyes of local authorities.” He said the residents took their grievances to police, but they did not respond. “The cause of these youths' gatherings is the municipality's negligence of the project and lack of facilities for families and children.” He added that teenagers have used the park to stay up until late. A field tour of the premises by Makkah newspaper revealed that young people were using drugs and other banned substances. Some locations have marks indicating there are drug dealers and addicts in the park. Al-Sheikhi said he contacted Al-Jamea Police several times, but there was no response. He also telephoned the General Directorate of Narcotics Control several times. After repeated calls he was told that the matter had been reported and would be dealt with sternly. However, Al-Sheikhi claimed that the teenagers still gather in the park daily. In Al-Ajwad No.1 District, next to Osama Bin Zaid Mosque, the municipality planted grass and shrubs in the park and set up a big water tank for irrigation, according to resident of three years Ramadan Al-Zahrani. Then the work stopped and the municipality's machinery left before the project was completed, he said. With time, the park became a thick forest and the water tank was infested with mosquitoes. It became a den for fugitives, drug addicts and those who carry out immoral acts, he claimed. Al-Zahrani said: “We contacted the municipality by dialing the complaints number, but our efforts were in vain. “We had to lodge further complaints with the police so they could deal with the violations that are threatening the residents of the district. “They responded quickly to the complaints, but problem is still prevalent.”
