The new projects will complete change the face of the Eastern Province. Among the projects are 20 tunnels and bridges in Dammam and Al-Khobar to ease traffic jams, reported the Al-Jazira Arabic language daily. Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd, Emir of the Eastern Province, has been personally following up on the progress of the projects. The Eastern Province Mayoralty is also carrying out projects for the beautification of nearly 40 new parks in Dammam. According to Engineer Dhaifallah Bin Ayish Al-Otaibi, Mayor of the Eastern Province, the current budget of the Eastern Province Mayoralty exceeds SR2,150,906,000 and includes 187 new projects this year. A number of 49 new projects have been approved in Dammam at a total cost of SR940 million. These include asphalting, paving and illuminating roads in Dammam, Al-Khobar and Dhahran as well as constructing storm-water drainage networks. Other projects in Dammam and Al-Khobar include building graveyards, places for washing dead bodies, filling and leveling the new residential districts, municipal parks, construction of irrigation networks, planting trees. Two new rural complexes have been approved in Jouf Bani Hajer rural complex in Abqaiq Governorate and another rural complex in Al-Qleib in Al-Ne'airiah Governorate. He said that 138 projects at a total cost of SR933,172,000 have been approved for the municipalities and rural complexes affiliated to the mayoralty. The Eastern Province Mayoralty has laid down a strategy according to an environmental vision to expand the greenery. The Recreation Park opened by Prince Mohammed is a distinctive landmark of the region. The King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Recreation Park at the seafront in Dammam comprises the main courtyard for holding official occasions. The entrance of the project has a gateway comprising two towers each at a height of 23 meters and with a design derived from the heritage to stress the architectural identity of the region. The project's green areas cover 200,000 square meters, which have been provided with the latest irrigation networks. It has three wells. About 12 shades have been erected to be used by families besides planting 890 Arabian and 250 Washington palm trees and a number of other trees and shrubs. These green areas are linked with promenades paved with tiles. Several seats are distributed along the promenades and passageways opposite the seafront. The project has a fishing area located in the northern part. There are parking lots on an area of 90,000 square meters. Promenades have been secured in the area adjacent to the beach with a length of 5,500 meters besides a passageway for jogging with a length of 4,100 meters. In addition, there is a 2950-meter-long railway track and a 1800-meter-long cycling course. During the past two years, 80 parks were established and work has started for 40 new. Football, basketball and volleyball playgrounds have been added to the new parks, side by side children's playgrounds. About four municipal open areas are being built in Dammam, Al-Khobar and Al-Qatif besides a promenade and parks surrounding the Eid prayer ground. The promenade is 1600 meters long and 9 meters wide. More attention has been given to walking spaces and as a result 20 promenades were constructed distributed in the open areas and parks in the districts with the aim of encouraging the citizens to practice the sport of walking. Work is going on to hand over the contractor an area with a length of 5 kilometers of the Airport Road to plant trees, shrubs and plants using the dry water technology. Six rows of trees will be planted – three rows on each side with a total length of 30 kilometers of trees. The mayoralty had planted 5 kilometers of trees along the road so that the total length that will have been planted in 2008 would reach 10 kilometers.
