THE public will soon be able to visit the Mutiara Rini Urban Forest at night as the park in Johor Baru will be extending its operating hours to 10pm. Located in Taman Mutiara Rini, the urban forest currently operates until 7pm daily, said Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) councillor Lim Soon Hai. “We are planning to extend the park’s opening hours at the end of November.
Lim says works are already ongoing to prepare the park for the longer operating hours. “Last year, I suggested on opening the park until after sunset as it will give the public a chance to enjoy nature and spend time outdoors after work,” he said. “I got the idea from visiting the beautiful parks in Taiwan, that are brightly lit and lively during the night.
“Upon Iskandar Puteri mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad’s agreement, plans were set in motion and the first phase of upgrades began last month,” Lim told StarMetro. He added that works were ongoing to prepare the park for the longer operating hours including installing solar-powered lamp posts and putting up LED lights to ensure the area would be well lit. “Closed-circuit television units will also be installed and there’ll be more frequent patrolling by security guards around the park to ensure visitor safety.
“Besides that, the park’s gym, walkway and playground are undergoing repairs and upgrades to provide better comfort to visitors,” he said. A fresh coat of paint would also be given to the park’s structures and lake area, he.
