Seven parks in Riyadh have their names approved as part of the "People Name Them" initiative
The Riyadh Municipality announced the final names for seven new parks located throughout the capital's neighborhoods, culminating a voting process in which residents actively participated as part of the "People Name It" initiative. This step reinforces the concept of community participation in urban decision-making, as the initiative aims to strengthen residents' connection to public spaces and reinforce the social fabric within residential neighborhoods.
The voting results yielded names with authentic Arabic connotations and aesthetic meanings. Hattin Park (15) was named “Al-Rafd,” Al-Muhammadiyah Park 2 was named “Al-Thuraya,” and Al-Magharzat Park was named “Al-Bashayer.” Al-Nuzha Park 2 was named “Al-Sumou,” Hattin Park (14) was named “Al-Mashraq,” the Press Square was named “Al-Adhiya,” and finally, the first western Al-Uraija Park was named “Khuzaim.”.
A strategic shift towards humanizing cities
This step cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the major transformations taking place in the Kingdom, particularly in the capital, Riyadh. Since the launch of Vision 2030, the government has prioritized the "quality of life" file, aiming to increase the per capita share of green spaces. The efforts to name parks complement mega-projects such as "Green Riyadh," where the goal is no longer simply to increase green areas, but to create an interactive urban environment where people feel they are part of the city's fabric, not just residents—a concept known globally as "humanizing cities.".
The importance of the initiative, which its people call it, and its societal impact
gains The "People Name It" initiative its significance from transforming the relationship between the municipality and residents from a traditional service-oriented one to a strategic partnership in development. Locally, involving residents in naming public facilities fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards these public assets, reducing vandalism and increasing attention to cleanliness and sustainability. Regionally and internationally, through these initiatives, Riyadh presents a model of a socially smart city that invests in human capital as an integral part of its urban planning, thus enhancing the Saudi capital's position as one of the most livable cities and bolstering its competitive standing in global indices for quality of life and urban well-being.
