Broken Parks, Rising Costs… Who Is Protecting Public Spaces?

TDT | Manama

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Children arriving at parks are now met with broken benches, damaged walkways, and neglected corners before they even find a place to sit, as public spaces across the Northern Governorate continue to suffer from repeated acts of vandalism.

Concern

This growing reality pushed Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Northern Municipal Council member for the Ninth Constituency, to demand urgent action to stop what he described as ongoing misuse and destruction of public facilities. He warned that the problem is no longer about maintenance, but about protecting public money and community spaces.

Raising the issue during a question presented in the council’s remote session on maintenance budgets for parks and walkways, Al Qubaisi stressed that increasing spending alone will not resolve the issue, cautioning against allowing vandals to continue unchecked while public funds are repeatedly spent on repairs that do not last.

Reality

From the municipality’s side, Director-General Mohammed Al Sahli acknowledged the scale of the challenge, stating that while the government remains committed to delivering quality services, weak public compliance continues to undermine these efforts.

He described the continuous rise in maintenance budgets as “chasing vandals,” pointing to a cycle where damage is repaired only to be repeated. He suggested that involving the private sector in managing public facilities could offer a more controlled and sustainable solution.

Debate

Council members echoed the situation's urgency, shifting the discussion from routine maintenance to accountability and enforcement.

Al Qubaisi called for a “simple and effective” security approach to address a problem that has persisted for years.

Saad Al Dosari pushed for introducing fees to protect public assets and regulate usage, while Abdulla Ashoor stressed the need for stricter fines against offenders, improved monitoring of security personnel, and stronger public awareness.

Bassem Abu Idris also highlighted the need to activate the role of private security companies, noting that current performance levels are insufficient to protect facilities that serve entire communities.

Outcome

The council agreed to raise its recommendations to the relevant authorities, marking a shift from simply maintaining damaged spaces to confronting the root of the problem. The question now moves beyond repairs to a deeper challenge: how to protect public spaces that communities rely on before they lose their purpose altogether.