Taman Pantai Butterworth reopens with Braille heritage boards

Taman Pantai Butterworth has reopened as the first park in Penang to feature historical information boards written in Braille, giving visually impaired visitors direct access to the park’s heritage content for the first time.

The 1.48-acre park in Bagan reopened following a RM755,420 upgrade carried out under the Levelling Up Seberang Perai (LUSP) programme, a partnership between the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) and Think City Sdn Bhd aimed at improving public infrastructure across the district.

Bagan Member of Parliament Lim Guan Eng, who visited the park following the upgrade, said the constituency remains committed to expanding green and recreational spaces for residents in the area.

RM755,420 upgrade funded through LUSP partnership

The upgrade was funded through a RM650,000 allocation from MBSP, together with a RM105,420 contribution from Think City Sdn Bhd, bringing the total project cost to RM755,420.

The funding falls under the Levelling Up Seberang Perai programme, which channels joint council and private-sector investment into public spaces across the district, from parks and walkways to community facilities.

Taman Pantai Butterworth sits on 1.48 acres of land at Lot 2431, a size that allowed the upgrade to include several distinct zones within the same park rather than a single renovated feature.

For a park of this size, splitting the budget between hard infrastructure, such as paths and equipment, and softer touches like landscaping and accessibility features reflects a broader push under LUSP to treat public parks as everyday community infrastructure, not just green cover.

New facilities bring jogging tracks and a children’s playground

The upgraded park now includes walking paths, a dedicated jogging track, and a Taichi plaza for residents who use the space for daily exercise.

A children’s playground and outdoor exercise equipment have also been added, giving families and older residents separate areas suited to their needs within the same park.

These additions sit within a refreshed green landscape, with new plantings intended to keep the park cooler and more comfortable for visitors throughout the day.

Taken together, the new facilities point to a park designed for a wide range of daily users, rather than a single-purpose recreational space, which is consistent with how LUSP-funded upgrades have approached other public areas in Seberang Perai.

Braille information boards mark a first for Penang

Taman Pantai Butterworth is now the first park in Penang to feature historical information boards written in Braille, allowing visually impaired visitors to access the park’s heritage information independently.

Before this addition, visually impaired visitors to public parks in the state had no equivalent way to engage with on-site historical or informational signage without assistance.

Lim said he hoped more green spaces across the constituency could be developed with similar inclusive features going forward, describing wellbeing and quality of life for local residents as the underlying goal.

“I hope more green spaces can be created to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of the local community,” he said.

The addition positions Taman Pantai Butterworth as a reference point for how accessibility features can be built into future public park upgrades in the state, rather than added as a separate initiative later.

Bagan MP outlines further green space plans for the constituency

Lim pointed to further green space projects planned for the Bagan constituency, including a new football field and recreational area at Taman Bagan funded through corporate social responsibility contributions.

An additional recreational space, referred to as Padang MADANI, is also planned beside SMK Mak Mandin, extending green space provisions to a different part of the constituency.

The visit to Taman Pantai Butterworth was attended by Penang Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye, Bagan Dalam assemblyman Kumaran Krishnan, and Bagan Jermal assemblyman Chee Yeeh Keen.

Also present were Seberang Perai Mayor Dato’ Haji Baderul Amin, City Secretary Mohd Ibrahim, and Think City managing director Dato’ Hamdan, reflecting the joint council and private-sector backing behind the project.

Residents in Bagan can expect further updates on the Taman Bagan and Padang MADANI projects as they move from planning into construction.