Addis Abeba Gets ‘First in Kind’ Public Park at the Cost of 26m Birr

The Beautification, Park & Cemetery Development & Administration Agency (BPCDA) has declared that 95pc of the construction of a 12,000sqm public park in Lideta District, within the area under redevelopment, has been completed.

The park, designed by K2N Architecture & Engineering Consultancy Plc and built by Koracon Construction, will cost a total of 26 millionBr.This is fully-funded by the Addis Abeba City Administration. Construction started in late 2012.

“We believe the entire project, including the park and another four green areas in the neighourhood, will be open to the public by May 2014,” said Alem Gizaw, Design, Research, Awareness Creation Sub-Processes head at the Agency. “The park will be the first modern park in the country.”

The construction of the remaining five percent will take six months to complete, because it took a long time to purchase materials for the singing fountain. The letter along with pond will occupy 20pc of the park. The materials have already been ordered, but are yet to be procured, a K2N official said.

In addition, there is some excavation work that remains to be done nearBalchaHospital, in order to create a green area.

Some of the other features included in the plan are mosaics, benches and cobblestone streets winding through the park. In addition, an area within the park will be covered in indigenous trees exclusively to create a small wooded area.

Although the park is designated for public use, it is especially targeted at artists and budding authors, according to Alem.

“We want to create a space where artists can be inspired and where they can display their work,” she said. “We want to encourage street art.”

She adds that the rising interest in creating green areas is the result of a growing concern for the environment. All parks are built with low fences to encourage a sense of ownership by the public, and charge a two Birr entrance fee.

There are currently 14 parks under construction in the city, which will bring the total to 22. The Agency has obtained 54,000sqm of land behindEstifanosChurch, in Kirkos District, for the construction of a green area.

While green areas have always been included in the Addis Abeba master plan, efforts to build them are relatively recent. According to Alem, this is due to the city administration’s focus on the construction of buildings.

“Due to the rising influence of globalisation and the demand for greenery from the population ofAddis Ababa, the city administration is giving the construction of parks prime focus,” she explained. “We are building parks in places where there are condominium houses.”

The latest park to begin construction is located on 30,000sqm at the Gotera Interchange, which straddles the Kirkos and Nefas Silk Lafto Districts. Habtamu International Consulting Architects & Engineers Plc won a bid to design and supervise its construction, which will cost 25 millionBr.

The design was completed in early September and the construction started right after the Ethiopian New Year, according to sources at Habtamu International. Solomon Tilahun Building Contractor won the contract from the Addis Abeba City Administration in August and construction is expected to be completed by March 2014.

TheLidetaParkand the other four green areas, collectively known as the Lideta Renewal Neighbourhood Green Park Project, were inaugurated by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February 2013, prior to their completion.

 


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