D.R. Seenivasagam Recreational Park is synonymous with Ipoh. The beauty of its greenery and landscape is well-loved by all.
Every corner of the park, which has two football fields and a multipurpose field, is well taken care of in terms of cleanliness.
This is made possible by the manpower who does the maintenance work at the park.
City Landscape Director of the Ipoh City Council (MBI), Meor Abdullah Zaidi Meor Razali explained that some of the trees at the park are beyond 70 years old.
“The 30-acre park has been open since 1953 and was given the name ‘Coronation Park’ to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in England.
“During the early days of its opening, it was a mini botanical garden,” he told Ipoh Echo during a recent interview.
After independence, the name of the park was changed to ‘Taman D.R. Seenivasagam’ (TDR) as a short form of ‘Darma Raja Seenivasagam’.
Seenivasagam was a prominent political leader of the People’s Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk – PPP), which was also known as the Perak Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Perak) before 1959.
He won the general election in 1959 for the area of Ipoh, Perak (1958-1964).
The park also houses a Japanese garden (Taman Jepun). It was built in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Ipoh-Fukuoka Sister Cities programme in 2019.
In line with the park’s concept of greenery, a cultivation site running on the concept of urban farming is also established.
According to Meor Abdullah Zaidi, throughout the implementation of movement control order since the beginning of the pandemic, many have started farming on a small scale.
The common plants planted at residential areas are vegetables and fruits.
“Thus we take the initiative to build a cultivation site in the park with seeds of fruit trees and vegetables such as cucumber and pineapple.
To enliven the site, landscape crew use natural materials such as bamboo to create a greenhouse to house the cultivated seedlings,” he explained.
The trees which bear fruit act as an attraction to visitors as their produce can be enjoyed and seedlings are available for purchase.
“There are various plants at the park, including the merbau tree which is famous in the industry of carpentry.
“Visitors who wish to unwind with their family while enjoying food brought from home can make use of the huts at the park for free. Do remember to clean up after usage,” he said.
The park is open from Monday till Sunday from 8am till 6pm, while the Japanese garden is open from Monday till Sunday from 10am till 4pm.
Members of the public must abide by the set standard operating procedures of being fully vaccinated and wearing face masks while at the park.
Rosli Mansor
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