Abu Dhabi has added another public park to its offering of green spaces. The 46,000-square-metre Sheikha Fatima Park will officially open at the end of 2021, but excitement is already building. Members of the public can now visit, however, some of the planned new attractions within the space are not yet open. Elijah Charles, 11, visits the park in Khalidiya at least twice a week with his father to practise skating. “I started skating when I was 9 and I am very fond of it. I was thrilled to discover a new park in the area with so many ramps,” Elijah says. “It’s just a five-minute walk to where we live.” His father, Jason Charles, who teaches science at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi, says they will visit more often once the weather has cooled down. “The park is a great addition to our community,” he says. The site is also popular with toddlers who like to spend the warm evenings cooling off at the splash pads while some of their parents play in the nearby basketball court. The park was formerly known as Khalidiyah Ladies Park and catered only to women and children. It was transformed into a leisure and fitness hub for families by UAE property development company Imkan. It is divided into three zones: a discovery zone, an adventure zone and an experience zone. The discovery zone consists of a skating and strolling area. The adventure zone has a skatepark, a pet park for four-legged family members, a splash pad zone, a basketball court and a play area for toddlers. The experience zone has retail stores spread across 10,000 square metres, including food and drinks outlets, a children’s daycare and a cycle store. There are areas for activities such as yoga and concerts, and there's an outdoor cinema. Some of the cafes and restaurants on offer include Sola Cafe, Seven Dawgs, Le Patchouli Cafe, Acai Ko Cafe, Starbucks, Teela House, Chocolate Republic, Coal Steakhouse, Social Restaurant, and Crunch and Munch. The park also houses <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/2021/08/25/indoor-cycling-studio-crank-preparing-to-open-its-doors-in-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank">Crank</a>, a boutique spin fitness gym. Abu Dhabi resident Cheyenne Fernandez often visits Sheikha Fatima Park to take a walk in the greenery and dine at the one of the restaurants. “My favourite spot at the moment is Seven Dawgs, which is popular for hot dogs,” she says. “Many other restaurants are gradually opening here that will surely enhance the visitor’s experience.”
