Ankara's Ankapark to be transformed into green space after public vote

Ankara's much-criticized Ankapark, a theme park project initiated with an alleged $801 million investment, is set to be repurposed as a green and recreational space. The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) announced that the decision was made in consultation with the city's residents, following a public referendum.

The referendum, titled "What Should Ankapark Be?", garnered participation from over 80,000 citizens. The results showed an overwhelming preference, with more than 90% of respondents voting in favor of transforming the vast area into a green space for public use. In line with this public mandate, the park will now be opened to citizens free of charge.

The ABB has committed to transparency regarding the park's controversial past and its significant expenditure. The municipality stated that all documents detailing the decisions and financial outlays from the project's inception to the present are being made available to the public. This includes information and evidence concerning the alleged "waste" of $801 million in public funds.

Furthermore, the ABB highlighted that citizens can examine the documents through a dedicated platform, "Ankapark Facts," and submit questions via a "Ask a Question" section. The municipality also recalled that Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş had previously filed a criminal complaint regarding the park's construction and the alleged public damages incurred. However, this complaint, which sought an investigation into all responsible parties, including himself, was ultimately dismissed.

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We made the decision about Ankapark's future together with Ankarans. More than 80,000 of our citizens participated in the referendum we conducted with the question 'What should Ankapark be?'; more than 90% of the participants were in favor of Ankapark as a green space and recreational area.