What was once a swamp and dumping ground full of stagnant water, reeds, and papyrus has been transformed by Baghdad Secretariat personnel into a large beautiful park containing playground equipment for children and areas of greenery. This has made area residents forget what this plot of land used to be and put smiles on children’s faces.

The Baghdad Secretariat has opened a model park on a five-dunam plot in Al-Obaidi in the east of the capital, Baghdad. This area has lacked such recreational projects for its residents.

A Baghdad Secretariat statement obtained by Mawtani said that the Baghdad Secretary, Dr. Sabir Al-Issawi, opened the park in conjunction with Iraqis’ blessed Eid Al-Fitr celebrations. A number of Baghdad Secretariat general directors, reporters from various media outlets, area residents, and respected members of the community were in attendance.

The statement added that the park, which mainly serves the residents of housing complexes in the capital’s east, contains a large amount of playground equipment, stone benches, umbrellas, fountains, and other public services.

The park’s site used to be an overgrown swamp where stagnant water and garbage collected before the Department of Arboretums and Parks, part of the Baghdad Secretariat, moved to invest in it and convert it to a beautiful open air park for residents of the densely populated area, the statement explained.

The statement revealed that the Department of Arboretums and Parks is working to build another park on a 22 dunam plot in the area. It hopes to open the park in the coming months to serve area residents.

The statement also said that Sabir Al-Issawi was briefed on a project to build a large park over the Al-Saqlawiah landfill in Al-Shaala. The park will contain playground equipment, various sports facilities, places for sitting and relaxation, and other facilities to serve area residents.

The Baghdad Secretariat’s efforts are ongoing to convert all empty spaces and plots into public gardens and parks to increase the city’s greenery, and so Baghdad residents may enjoy these recreational facilities during national holidays and occasions.

After affirming the success of its plan to receive Baghdad families and those from the governorates of Iraq in its recreational and tourist facilities in Al-Zawraa Park, Al-Rusafa Amusement Park, the Abi Nuass gardens, the Al-Adhimiyah Corniche, and other public parks and gardens throughout the days of blessed Eid Al-Fitr, the Baghdad Secretariat said it has put in place plans to build a number of large parks and tourist facilities similar to Al-Zawraa Park through investment.

Sabir Al-Issawi said in the statement that these parks and tourist facilities will be built in Al-Rusafa, covering 1000 dunam north of Madinat Al-Shaab in addition to a water park in Al-Sabiyat north of Baghdad covering 400 dunam, and another 63 dunam park in Al-Jamia containing recreational and commercial areas. The secretariat, he said, will also continue to build public parks and gardens throughout residential Baghdad.