Park makeover to inspire reconnection with nature

KLANG Royal City Council (MBDK) plans to turn Taman Bandar DiRaja Klang into a biophilic garden to encourage folk to reconnect with nature and improve overall well-being.

Mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said MBDK is seeking nature-inspired solutions to mitigate the pressures of climate change and population growth on the built environment.

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Connection with the natural environment, he added, was not optional but essential.

Abd Hamid says the new design will improve people’s connection with nature.

“The city council’s landscape architects have advised that a biophilic garden be created in an urban setting to play a critical role in maintaining Klang’s liveability.”

The mayor added that the garden would also manage surface runoff and mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect.

UHI is a phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their surrounding rural areas due to heat-trapping hard surfaces like sidewalks, asphalt roads, and concrete buildings.

Natural attraction

MBDK Landscape and Recreational Department deputy director Azzura Zainal said RM800,000 had been approved from its Budget 2025 to redesign Taman Bandar DiRaja Klang.

The project, she added, would start in the first week of May and is expected to be completed by the end of September.

The project aims to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aspires to ensure well- being for all, SDG 11 (make cities sustainable) and SDG 15 (protect ecosystems).

She said council landscape architects, along with planners and engineers, envisioned turning the elevated 4.5ha parcel of land sandwiched between Jalan Tengku Kelana and Jalan Istana into a people-centric area.

Abd Hamid said in the next decade, climate change could cause Klang to become warmer and see more frequent deluges.

“We might also experience a surge in Klang’s UHI effect.

“One of the important reasons for a biophilic garden is to keep immediate areas cooler and act as a sponge during incessant rains.

“With shaded trees, the increased canopy coverage will minimise urban heating and improve the comfort level for pedestrians walking along Jalan Tengku Kelana and Jalan Istana,” he said.

Abd Hamid said landscape architects would preserve the topography of the undulating hillock there.

“The terrain will also hold moisture for healthy vegetation growth,” he said.

He added that Klang was expected to grow, both in terms of population and the number of tourists.

“Creating a biophilic garden will improve the quality of the urban environment,” said Abd Hamid.

Azzura said in today’s fast-paced and stressful environment, it was important to have well- designed spaces as these could become much needed respites from daily work demands.

She added that such spaces also gave both locals and visitors a chance to recharge and refocus.

The fountain pool at the park is dried up and not functioning.

“Building the biophilic garden as a living ecosystem and ensuring that it provides the maximum benefits for communities will depend on tree species selection, improvements in soil moisture retention and extent of infrastructure conflicts,” she said.

Azzura said the park’s redesign included a water conservation feature, taking into account climate change and the El Nino effect that could potentially cause prolonged droughts.

“Water shortage is a concern.

“The biophilic garden is an asset for the eco-conscious Klang community and MBDK is not exempt from the responsibility of conserving water usage,” she said.

MBDK has plans to choose trees such as tanjung (mimusops elengi), sweet-smelling daun salam or bay leaves and other flowering trees that produce pleasant scents.

Calming place

Landscape architect Andi Sofyan Mohd Sidek said Abd Hamid’s push for a biophilic park was essential as MBDK aspired to incorporate the natural environment into people’s daily lives.

He said the biophilic garden would be especially advantageous to children with autism as it can give them an enriching space to explore their senses and engage with nature.

“The choice of soft landscape of shrubs with varied textures, colours and smells is crucial to offer autistic children a therapeutic environment where they can run freely, learn and relax, catering to their sensory needs,” he added.

Taman Bandar DiRaja Klang is located on a hillock.

Andi added that it was essential to create a calming environment for children with autism.

“MBDK needs to incorporate simple auditory elements.

“Wind chimes can be hung throughout the garden to create sounds as the breeze blows.

“Activating the two disused fountains will produce soothing water sounds and adding birdbaths will add to the experience,” he said.

Student Ungku Mazwanee Ungku Mustaffa, 23, said the biophilic garden idea was innovative but MBDK must be mindful when selecting flowering shrubs with potential allergens that could trigger allergies in children with particular sensitivities.

Azzura (left) and Andi discussing the plan for the biophilic garden at Taman Bandar DiRaja Klang.

“On the economic benefits, the project will help lessen health costs associated with sedentary behaviour and obesity as well as promote relaxation, reducing depression, anxiety and fatigue in the process.

“A good park will encourage families to walk and exercise,” she added.

Civil servant Muhammad Zulfaqar Anwar Kamaruzaman, 34, said urban parks could give the city a better image and help to promote tourism as visitors enjoy engaging with nature on vacation.

“It will give Klang a competitive economic advantage as it will be an attractive space for events and activities such as car- free day and weekend garden picnics, that would boost the local economy,” he added.