KL-ites will have a new recreational spot come mid-2018, when the city gets its own urban rainforest park similar to New York's Central Park and London's Hyde Park.

The 26.7 hectare and RM650 million project, currently known as Taman Tugu, will sit in the area between the National Monument and the Istana Selangor. On top of the usual jogging paths, cycling lanes and playground, the free-for-public park will also include other features such as a man-made lake, an observation deck as well as a camping area.

The view from the lookout point. (Image: Taman Tugu Official Website)
An artist's impression of the lake and its surrounding areas. (Image: Taman Tugu Official Website)
To promote educational and outdoor activities, Taman Tugu will also incorporate an 80m-long hanging bridge, a Rainforest Education Centre (a partnership with the Malaysian Nature Society), a water park plus an Action and Adventure Zone complete with zip lines, a rope obstacle course (subject to public voting) and an 800m-long trail through the forest.

A proposed canopy walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. (Image: Taman Tugu Official Website)
How the water park may look like. (Image: Taman Tugu Official Website)
For added convenience, a network of walkways, underpasses and bridges will also be built, connecting the park to various surrounding locations including Taman Botani Perdana, KL Sentral and the Bank Negara KTM station.

To make Taman Tugu the best iconic symbol that it can be, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (the major party behind the establishment of this not-for-profit project) and the Government are inviting feedback and suggestions from members of the public. Think the park could do with a miniature wildlife sanctuary or even a solar-powered rollercoaster? Got a cooler name for the park? Let them know through the Taman Tugu official website.