Al-Azhar Park
Located in Cairo, Egypt, this park was “Previously a municipal rubbish dump (for about 500 years), approximately 80,000 truckload of debris had to be removed before construction started and in the process a 12th century Ayyubid city wall of Cairo that was built during the reign of Salah el-Din, as well as some valuable stones with hieroglyphic texts were uncovered!” More here.
Cairo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world (17 million) and was desperately in need of this “green lung” as some have called it. Unofficially, Cairo is over 4000 years old and has a rich cultural history much too complex to describe here. Air and water pollution and adequate housing are enourmous problems for the city.
Built on a generous grant from the Agha Khan Trust For Culture, it took 20 years to make the park a reality. More here.
Here is a look at the park being shaped.
These water tanks being installed service local neighborhoods as well as provide water for the park in the very dry environment of Cairo.
The discovery of a nearly mile long section of the 12th-century Ayyubid Wall which had been buried for centuries.
It also has been restored.
Photo: Gary Otte, Aga Khan Trust For Culture
Photo: Gary Otte, Aga Khan Trust For Culture
There is a nominal (about 60 cents) entrance fee to the park but one has to wonder if that will allow the park to really serve the poor residents of some of the surrounding communities. The charge, of course, is to help offset maintenance costs. As with all large urban projects time will tell the story of Al-Azhar Park.
Ismailimail 