The park is located in the eastern section of the municipality. It extends between the Brodarska and eastern extension of Savski nasip streets on the north, Gazela bridge on the west and the left bank of the Sava river on the south; that is, the Sava quay, which spreads out along the Sava's bank. In the north it extends into the Gazela residential local community, in the west into the neighborhood of Savski Nasip, and in the east, along the quay, into the neighborhood of Staro Sajmište.
History
The park area used to be known as the Park of the Non-aligned,[1] after the Third World countries movement co-founded by then Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. The park was formed in 1978.[2] The 3 hectares (7.4 acres) park's poor maintenance over decades caused it to fall into bad shape.
On 13 March 2020, 269 additional trees were planted in the park. They were mostly maple and various conifers. The seedlings were planted by the mayor of Belgrade Zoran Radojičić and ambassador of Sweden to Belgrade, Jan Lundin.[4] In 2020, 79 seedlings of Japanese cherry were donated by the Japanese Business Alliance. In order to commemorate the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, they were arranged in the form of the Olympic rings in April 2021.[5]
By the 2020s, the park expanded to 7 hectares (17 acres). The promenade along the quay on the Sava's left bank is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long. There are two basketball courts and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long bicycle track.[2] In November 2021 it was proposed that the quay should be named the "Bank of the Jasenovac's Victims".[6]
Additional 60 trees were planted on 9 December 2022, commemorating the Human Rights Day, by numerous city officials, embassies representatives, and members of the human rights organizations, including Belgrade's deputy mayor Vesna Vidović and U.S. ambassador Christopher R. Hill.[7][8]
Characteristics
The creation of a new park was conducted by planting of 300 deciduous and conifer trees, 500 square metres (5,400 sq ft) of grass turfs, 3,000 pieces of seasonal flowers, and park equipment donated by the Tamaris company from Banja Luka.[3] The park and its promenades are already labeled one of the best arranged and an "open botanical garden", because of the unusual variety of plants in it, where "biology students can learn just by sitting on the benches".[1]
Plants
Among the trees planted in the park are several of the rare species in Serbia, including the living fossilginkgo biloba, North Americansequoia, red beech (Fagus silvatica f. atropunicea), curly willow, yellow beech, etc.[1][3] The trees are mostly planted toward the center of the park, leaving an open low plant space surrounding it. The avenue in the central alley is made of the seedlings of the Weeping Birch, while the access walking paths to the center are made as an avenue of Norway maple and ash trees.
^ abBranka Vasiljević (15 September 2021). Седам застава Србије у Парку Републике Српске [Seven Serbian flags in Park of Republika Srpska]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
^B.H. (14 March 2020). Обала Саве богатија за 269 стабала [Sava's bank enriched with 269 trees]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 14.
^Branka Vasiljević (17 April 2021). Олимпијски кругови трешње у част Олимпијских игара [Cherry-made Olympic rings in honor of Olympic games]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 16.
