The Serenity Of Taman Awam Miri

A well-designed park is more than green space in the midst of a concrete jungle–it makes a city lovable and livable, allowing us to get away from the bustle and hustle of the city. Such a park becomes quite literally an oasis and the greenery can bring about an epiphany no less intense than a beautiful painting. And Taman Awam Miri is one such park.

Taman Awam Miri or Miri Public Park is a beautiful, well maintained public park located on a hill about 3 km from the city centre along the Miri-Bintulu Road. Entrance to the park is free.

Facilities and attractions available here include flora gardens, food court, fountains, observatory platform, suspension bridges, man-made waterfalls , a children wading pool, children’s playground, souvenir centre, stone carving, sculptures, pavilions, jogging tracks and other sporting facilities.

 

The observatory platform is designed like an oil rig since Miri has traditionally been called the Oil Town of Sarawak. From the top of the tower, you can get some great views of the park and surrounding forests.

The most unique feature of the park is the network of suspension bridges that links one end of the park to the other. Walking on these bridges, you can get a good aerial view of the park and the surrounding areas. For those who have never walked on a suspension bridge before, this is your chance to try it out.

 

The variety of flowers in the park is rather limited but the many trees, palms, bamboo plants and pathways give an aura of serenity to the park.

 

Roam the park, take in the amazing views or just enjoy the fresh air. And when you are tired, the many wooden benches that dot the park are there for you.

The park is also the perfect setting for picnic with several sheds and barbecue pits. It is a popular place for morning exercise and evening walk and also a popular backdrop for wedding photos. There is even a foot reflexology pathway for you to walk barefooted.

The stalls at the food court are only open at night. An added advantage of visiting the park at night is the chance for stargazing.

An overhead bridge spanning across the Miri-Bintulu Road connects the park to the Airport Road Outcrop. This outcrop, a raised outcrop of layered laterite and other soft rocks that clearly illustrate how the surrounding land was formed and how Miri rose from the sea over the last 10-15 million years,  is strictly for geology buffs. It is said that the outcrop presents clear testimony that today’s land, Miri and all, was under the sea at that time.

So are you convinced now that Taman Awam is really worth more than just a visit? See you there!