Shams Central Park - Shams Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Central Park is a major attraction of Shams Abu Dhabi, offering about one million square feet of open space and recreational amenities. It is a key feature of the development that will help the developer, Sorouh, deliver a "life in perfect balance" for the 70,000-strong Shams community.  Central Park was designed to offer active and passive recreation for the Shams community, positioning it as a daily destination for residents and visitors. The design includes shops and cafes bordering the canal promenades, three levels of vehicle parking below the entire park, a mosque and a state-of-the-art restaurant overlooking the water theatre. The Central Park canals and lagoon serve as the confluence of the city's canal and open space system.  Jeff Lakey participated in the design as a leading member of the invitation-only submittal by the RNL team.