Revive the “Romania Park” project. What does the mayor Daniel Băluță want to do in Tineretului and how have the prices increased since the first attempt
Mayor Daniel Băluță wants to revive the “Romania Park” project, which involves setting up in Lumea Copiilor Park, located in the continuation of Tineretului Park, a theme park with miniature Romanian tourist attractions. The project was announced ahead of the Centenary of the Union in 2017 and was supposed to be ready on 1 December 2018, but was shelved.
The District 4 Local Council approved on Tuesday the price update for the expropriations necessary for the realization of the project – 3 plots of land totaling 4,728, on bd. Tineretului and Secerei street.
The expropriations were first approved in 2021, but have not been carried out, and the value of the land has increased in the meantime. Thus, if in 2021, the amount required for expropriation was 4,753,491 lei, now it has increased to 6,514,360 lei, this being the price update made on Tuesday by the City Council.
The theme park would have a total of about 31,000 sqm, 26,341 of which is already public land – that is, Lumea Copiilor Park, and the park will be expanded on the lands to be expropriated.
Appealed decision
The USR councilors say that the expropriated lands should be developed as green spaces, not with “booths”, the percentage of concrete surface in the park being already exceeded.
“The revival of “România Parc”, another obsession of Băluță since 2017, hides a much bigger problem. Lumea Copiilor Park, of which it would be a part, has a green space occupancy percentage of 35%, although the PUG allows a maximum of 15%. Practically, in the new area it would not be legal to build any alley. The lands to be expropriated must be developed exclusively as green spaces, not transformed into kitsch props on which millions of the money of the citizens of Sector 4 are thrown”, said Paul Ene, USR Sector 4 local councilor.
Romania park, a project promised in 2017 for the Unirii Centenary
Mayor Daniel Băluță announced the Romania Park project in November 2017.
“România Parc 2018 will be inaugurated on December 1, 2018, on the 100th anniversary of the Great Union, the beginning of modern Romania,” the mayor announced at the time.
The project was to be developed on 26,000 square meters of Lumea Copiilor Park – located on bld. The youth.
“Unique in Romania, the project will be set up on an area of 26,000 square meters in the “Lumea Copiilor” park in Sector 4 of the Capital, in the shape of the current map of Romania, and aims to become a landmark for both Bucharest residents and tourists, offering a valuable interactive experience to visitors of all ages”, announced the City Hall of Sector 4 at the time.
In the most faithful reproduction of the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic space, the Danube will be represented in the southern part of the park, the Black Sea and the Delta in the southeast and east, and the Carpathians in the “heart” of the country. The relief forms as well as the main natural landmarks – the Sphinx, Babel, famous lakes and caves – will be able to be admired closely by those who want to discover the beauty of Romania, the City Hall described the investment.
“At the same time, the park will be a real botanical garden, which will represent native vegetation, typical of the climatic zones of our country, designed to offer an exceptional setting throughout the whole year”, the description also states.
Approximately 100 models (made on a scale of 1:25 or 1:30) are to be placed in the park, presenting a selection of monuments and symbols of Romania, such as:
- the old capital of Dacia – Sarmizegetusa Regia
- the face of Decebalus carved in the rock
- The Cathedral of the Reunification of the Nation from Alba Iulia
- the monasteries of Bucovina (Putna and Voronet)
- Agapia monastery
- Eminescu's hypothesis
- a gate from Maramures
- the cemetery from Săpânta
- Peleş and Bran castles
- The Black Church
- The mausoleum from Mărășești
- the works of Brâncusi
- Arc de Triomphe
- Romanian Athenaeum etc.
“Romania Parc 2018 offers a variety of attractions for children as well: ships, little trains, cars, which will be set in motion with the help of control panels, respectively interactive puzzle games, the presentation of traditional crafts from each area, with the opportunity to experience them in specific workshops (stone carving, wood carving, etc.). There will also be general knowledge contests about our country and open-air shows, for which will build a stage for an audience of approximately 300 people”, the description also states.
In November 2017, the District 4 Local Council approved the technical-economic indicators related to the project, the value of the investment being estimated at 18.55 million lei. In 2021, the value of the investment increases to 38 million lei. Most likely, this price is no longer current either.
