SHKP Quarterly

SHKP Malls revitalize their outdoor space in a facilities upgrade 新地商場活用室外空間 提升配套設施 Given the unusual circumstances amid the pandemic in the past year, there has been a growing appetite for outdoor activities in safe and comfortable venues. In response to this demand, certain SHKP Malls revitalized their outdoor space and introduced various complimentary outdoor facilities, seamlessly linking up shopping and leisure with outdoor activities. For instance, New Town Plaza added a new rooftop grass sports park, a balance bike park and a recreational venue for pets, while YOHO MALL set up a new urban farm and bike parking facilities. Sports and recreational facilities to encourage people to exercise more New Town Plaza in Sha Tin has actively enlivened its outdoor platforms to enhance the customer experience. The L5 outdoor platform in Phase I has been transformed into Hong Kong’s first outdoor grass sports park – SportZone. The 3,250-square- metre (35,000-square-foot) sports park features seven outdoor sport zones: a rock-climbing zone, a freestyle fitness zone, a basketball court, a grass jogging trail, five-metre-high grass slides, 17-metre-long hanging balance beams and a mountain-themed resting zone. Each sports zone has weight-training courses led by top athletic trainers for people at different levels, encouraging them to exercise more. The L3 outdoor platform in New Town Plaza Phase I is the first outdoor balance-bike park in Hong Kong. Balance Bike Park has a wide driveway, minor slopes and cushioned railings to ensure safe and fun riding for children. New Town Plaza has something new for people with pets as well. A recreational venue for pets has been added to the L1 outdoor platform in Phase I. The Pets Park is divided into an adventure zone and a picnic zone, with six recreational facilities for pets. Owners are welcome to bring their furry friends along and have fun together. Separately, following the opening of the cycle track linking Yuen Long and Sheung Shui, as part of the Tuen Mun – Ma On Shan Cycle Track Network, YOHO MALL, in Yuen Long, has introduced new bike-parking facilities. Bike- repair stations, bike-parking lots and mobile phone chargers are available in its Landscaped G r o un d , Op e n P i a z z a a n d Tr a n s p o r t Interchange to cater for the needs of bike lovers. The mall has even released electronic YOHO Zine – Cycling Guidebooks, with easy biking routes to signature attractions in Yuen Long, as well as snapshot hot spots and must- go restaurants in YOHO MALL. Urban farm to promote green living YOHO MALL set up the YOHO Urban Farm, which spans over 930 square metres (10,000 square feet), making it the largest urban farm in a New Territories mall. Located in the Landscaped Ground in YOHO MALL I, the farm will grow more than 100 farm products each year, including various seasonal fruits and vegetables, colourful seasonal flowers, and herbs for well-being and cooking. The farm products will be rotated on a seasonal basis. Visitors can learn what fruits and vegetables are in season for added farming fun. There will also be occasional experience guided tours to help participants learn more about farming and tips for green living. Outdoor festive themed installations To encourage people to get fresh air, SHKP Malls extended its festive or art installations to the outdoor zones to enhance the shopping and leisure experience for visitors in recent years. SportZone in New Town Plaza is the first outdoor grass sports park in the city 新城市廣場“躍動悠園”為全港首個空中草地運動公園 12 業務動向 Vol 99 • Q1 2021 • SHKP Quarterly