Renovation closing leaves Rolla Park deserted

KK Moidu

THE closing of the always-crowded Rolla Park for renovation has left the place deserted, especially during Ramadan. This popular landscape has been one of the favourite places for the public during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The Ramadan fair at the park used to be the main attraction for the crowds in the evenings. It used to look brilliant in the nights with the colourful illumination of the area.
The area not only provided entertainment but also allowed the visitors to buy everything at a discounted price. The Asian Village at the park was the prior choice of people for shopping.
The commercially vibrant area filled with shops, exchanges, hotels, etc. becomes more active in Ramadan days with extra shops built at the park during Ramadan. Now the crowds are very less compared to yesteryears during this season and it is also affecting the business, says shop owners.
Rolla Park was known as a favourite meeting point for expatriate labourers and other low-income group from all over the UAE. People working in other emirates come to the park on Friday evenings to meet their friends and relatives. They enjoy the evening with their relatives and friends discussing every matters under the Sun, sharing good food and a small shopping before returning home late night.
These get-togethers make the surrounding cafeterias, money exchanges, electronic shops, cargo, saloons etc busy until midnight.
But now closing of the park for renovation has stopped these people from coming to the area.
Although residents in the surroundings were disturbed by the shopping and socialising of these crowds on weekends, they also agree that the closing of the park has made Rolla "life-less," especially during Ramadan.