Most people know Shaab Park from the late 90s, but back in the 80s it looked completely different. I’ve been looking for photos of what Shaab Park used to look like in the early days what seems like forever, but I’ve never been able to find any… other than my own personal family photos.
Since I used to (and still do) live in Salmiya, my mum would take me and my siblings to Shaab Park to meet up with our friends since it was close by. Back then the park wasn’t fenced up, and it was a large green field and looked pretty vast in the photos. There was a sandy area with some slides, swings and toys, and there was also an area with a small rollercoaster, bumper cars and other rides.
Some of the residential buildings in the background I think are still there today. You can also see the Al-Muzaini Mosque in one of the photos and the Abdullah Al-Salem School. The Abdullah Al-Salem School is where the Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center is today. When the school was demolished in 2014, it wasn’t operational but Al-Maidan Cultural Centre was located there. Al-Maidan was part of Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah and used to hold various performances and musical events.
Based on how old I look in the photos, the fact that my younger brother isn’t in any of them (he was born in 1985) and the different outfits I’m wearing, my best guess is these photos were taken between 1983 and 1985. Check out all the photos here.
8 replies on “A Look at Shaab Park in the Early 1980s”
Do you have any photos of Shaab Park in the 90’s or the early 2000’s?
no but you should be able to easily find those by just googling, they’re not as rare
Shaab always held pride of place in my heart. Remember the one time they let me in for the caterpillar train ride whereas my oversized friend 6 years younger than me was not. They told her it is not for big kids which had me in splits. Will never forget Shaab park for that.
I miss Shaab more for TSC than the park itself. Shaab cinema felt like a damp squib.
Does Shaab park derived its name from the popular Palestinian Shaabi market such as the one near Sheri Lyn?
what shaabi market near sheri Lyn? I remember there was a market you went to underground across the street from sheri lyn, is that the one you’re referring to because I didn’t think anyone but myself recalled it.
Right you are, man! That is the one. It was across from where the Sheri Lyn once stood.
I don’t remember much from it but I used to go there I think at start of new school year to get school stuff, do you remember what the place was called?
Vaguely think it was called the Palestinian Bichawan or at least, me and my family would refer to it as that. Yes, the start of the school year was when all roads would lead to this place. How time flies?!