Sarajevo: "Friendship Forest" Park Officially Opened

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Stari Grad is richer today by another oasis of peace, nature, and cleanliness, and the "Friendship Forest" Park has been opened at the Grdonj site thanks to excellent cooperation between the Cantonal Public Enterprise Sarajevo-Forests, the General Directorate of Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, and the Municipality of Stari Grad.

This modernly equipped park, on the road to the Barice picnic area, offers citizens numerous facilities and activities in nature, and is only a twenty-minute drive from Baščaršija, and is the first of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina, announced the Municipality of Stari Grad.

The "Friendship Forest" Park, which covers an area of over six hectares, has landscaped walking paths, an amphitheater, a children's playground, exercise equipment, gazebos, coolers, a restaurant, souvenir shops, five public fountains, a guardhouse, and other facilities.

In addition, the "Friendship Forest" Park has a small artificial lake, picnic areas, and a large viewpoint. The road to today's opening was very long and began back in 2010 when the idea of creating such a nature park near the heart of Sarajevo was first mentioned.

"Through the joint efforts, primarily of the General Directorate of Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, the Municipality of Stari Grad, the Association of Forestry Engineers and Technicians of FBiH, the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton, TIKA, the company Natron-hayat d.o.o., and of course our company, we have reached the point where this unique project, not only in our city but in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has seen the light of day," said Nermin Demirović, director of KJP "Sarajevo-Forests", which will manage and operate this nature park.

Demirović added that the first works began in 2015, and that approximately 800,000 KM was invested in all facilities: "we owe great gratitude to our true friends from the Republic of Turkey, as well as to our domestic partners.

"Admission for all visitors is free," stated Demirović.

The Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, and the Secretary of the Civil Service, Alma Destanović, attended today's official opening.

"Back in 2013, today's stakeholders discussed with me the topic of launching such a park in the area of Stari Grad Municipality. From our side, support immediately came in the form of obtaining administrative permits, and the road to the "Friendship Forest" Park, from the reservoir to Špicasta stijena on Grdonj, has been asphalted. The Municipality of Stari Grad also financed the purchase of water tanks installed at this location," said Mayor Hadžibajrić and thanked for another generous assistance from the Republic of Turkey.

Representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), as well as the Director General of Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, Bekir Karacabey, were also present at the official opening. In his address, he said that they have 36 similar parks throughout the Republic of Turkey, which aim to preserve ecology, forests, and also provide recreation for the population, given that all parks are located near larger cities: "This is the first nature park we have helped build outside the borders of our country. We chose Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo with whom we have had, have, and will always have special relations that we are proud of. I wish for the citizens of Sarajevo and all other visitors to enjoy this site," Karacabey conveyed in his address. After the addresses of all the officials, a joint tour of the 'Friendship Forest Park' followed.