11.2.4 : Public access to green spaces

Taman Tropika UTM

The Taman Tropika UTM is strategically positioned at the edge of the campus lakes, serving as a prominent, accessible feature for both the university population and external visitors.

• Designated Public Park Status: The park is formally recognized as a "public park serving both the University and the surrounding community", confirming its role as an open space for general use. The park is explicitly noted as being "open to university and neighbouring communities".
• Recreational and Leisure Access: The park is designed primarily for passive recreational activities, encouraging users to "refresh and relax" after busy schedules. Activities supported include "light evening strolls and exercises," "Sightseeing," and "Leisure and Recreation". The provision of basic amenities like Wakaf, Washroom, and Parking Space supports extended public use.
• Natural Heritage and Educational Access: The space functions as a valuable natural heritage landscape, famous for its collection of heliconias and gingers species. The on-site Rumah Tropika UTM (Tropical House), which acts as an Information Centre, is described as a "recreational as well as educational facility". This ensures that public access extends beyond mere leisure to include educational engagement with nature.

By actively defining the Taman Tropika UTM as a free-to-access public park and supporting its use with dedicated recreational and educational infrastructure, UTM effectively provides and encourages public access to open spaces and green spaces.

Source :

https://dvcdev.utm.my/utmgeotourism/tamantropika/

UTM Recreational Forest

The UTM Recreational Forest demonstrates a strong commitment to providing accessible natural amenities:

• Designated Public Green Space: The forest covers a significant area of 37.5 square kilometers within the UTM Campus Forest Reserve. Its establishment in 2003 was driven by the explicit purpose of accommodating the needs for leisure, recreation, camping, and co-curricular activities for UTM students/staff specifically, and the surrounding Johor Bahru community in general (masyarakat sekitar Johor Bahru amnya).
• Natural Heritage and Ecosystem Conservation: This area serves as a valuable natural heritage landscape, featuring hilly topography, valleys, and several springs for river irrigation. Crucially, the forest is a habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including some species that are 20 years old. The conservation of this large, biodiverse ecosystem ensures the long-term availability of a public green space.
• Community Recreational Provision: The forest provides a large, designated area for recreation and leisure. While the site offers various paid camping packages for rental to the general public (orang awam), the explicit inclusion of the "surrounding Johor Bahru community" in the forest’s core purpose confirms its function as a publicly provided open and green space amenity.

By managing and conserving this massive natural area and dedicating it to the use of the wider community, UTM strategically provides access to an essential green space for public recreation and well-being.

Source :

https://dvcdev.utm.my/utmgeotourism/recreational/