Malé council extends park opening hours until midnight

The Malé City Council has approved a decision to keep all gated public parks in the capital open until midnight.

The decision was taken during the council's meeting on Wednesday, where members debated whether parks should remain open around the clock or operate with extended opening hours.

Maafannu North councillor Hussain Furushan proposed removing closing hours altogether, arguing that public parks are among the few recreational spaces available to residents in Malé.

Furushan said the council regularly receives complaints from members of the public regarding restricted opening hours at parks.

He suggested that security concerns could be addressed through increased surveillance and closer monitoring by law enforcement agencies.

“I do not believe parks should be locked,” Furushan said during the meeting.

However, Maafannu South councillor Ibrahim Laban Shareef proposed extending operating hours until midnight instead of allowing 24-hour access.

Councillors noted concerns that keeping parks open throughout the night could increase the risk of unlawful activities taking place in public spaces.

Following discussions, council members unanimously approved a motion to keep all gated parks open from 5:30am until 12:00am.

The revised operating hours will apply to parks currently managed under fixed opening and closing schedules.

These include Sultan Park and Lonuziyaaraiy Park.

Prior to the decision, Sultan Park closed at 6:00pm before reopening for evening access until 10:00pm, while Lonuziyaaraiy Park operated from 6:00am to 10:00pm.

The council's decision is expected to provide residents with extended access to public recreational spaces while maintaining overnight closure of the facilities.