New park project set to bring Yerevan green space area above WHO minimum

YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS. The new park project in Yerevan, if implemented, would ensure the Armenian capital’s minimum green space per capita recommended by the World Health Organization, a city official has said.

The project involves creating a new 200-hectare public park in the territory of the Gardens of Dalma, the oldest and biggest garden in the city located in between downtown Yerevan and adjacent districts of Ajapnyak and Malatia-Sebastia, and the Hrazdan Gorge.

Gorik Avetisyan, the Deputy Director of the Environmental Department at City Hall, described the project as an “ambitious large-scale” initiative.

The minimum standard of green spaces per capita recommended by the World Health Organization is 9m2, whereas at this moment the figure is 8m2 in Yerevan, Avetisyan told Armenpress.

“Creating that park will allow us to surpass the WHO minimum,” he said.

“At the same time, we will have a large community park, which will ensure the microclimate of Shengavit, Malatia-Sebastia and Ajapnyak districts, and serve as a new leisure zone for the population,” he said.

Experts are now conducting various studies at the site, such as: topography, geodesy, infrastructure information and others.

Avetisyan highlighted more green spaces in the context of reducing air pollution.

“The City Hall is investing great resources to create new green spaces or preserve the existing ones every year. In the past two years the green spaces in Yerevan were expanded by 35 hectares,” the official said.