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Grand Park of Tirana

The Grand Park of Tirana, or the Park on the Artificial Lake, also as Artificial Lake Of Tirana, is a 289 hectare public park situated on the southern part of Tirana, Albania, and administered by the Agency of Parks and Recreation of the Municipality of Tirana.

Setting and contents
The Park includes the Royal Palace located on the side and close to the Elbasan Street. The Palace, whose building was started by Zog of Albania, served as a Royal Palace only once, for the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III during his only visit to Albania in May 1941 as King of Albania. The Palace had also served vicegerent Francesco Jacomoni and later the Fascist general Alberto Pariani. Now it is the official residence of the President of Albania. The Park was also home of the memorial to the mother of King Zog of Albania, Sadijé Toptani. The monument was destroyed by the communist regime in the 1950s and can now be enjoyed only in pictures. In addition the Park has an amphitheatre, where various cultural activities occur especially in summer months. == Rehabilitation and controversy ==
Rehabilitation and controversy
The Park has suffered extensively from problems of litter and pollutants and crime has also been reported in the area. In 2005, the Municipality organized the 'Green Fair', where major ideas were collected as how to fully rehabilitate the Park. In 2008, a lakeside competition was held to come up with the best urban and ecologic masterplan for the future of the district, to create a new dense urban neighborhood with a park and public facilities at the shore of Lake. The masterplan consists of 225,000 square metres of housing, 60,000 square metres offices, 20,000 square metres public buildings, 60,000 square metres retail, 15,000 square metres of hotels and 20,000 square metres sport and recreational facilities and a car park. The redesign was scheduled to take place in 2010 with a total estimated investment of 600 million euros. The major constructions will reduce the size of the green area of the park, which has led to much controversy in the Albanian media as to the actual benefits to the citizens of Tirana. In 2015, a competition was held to design the Park's entrance. It sparked great controversy because the original competition brief threatened the integrity of the park, a cherished public space in Tirana, with important construction requirements. A team of architects composed of three offices (BuildingBuilding, Elias Guenoun Architect and UHO) won the competition with a proposal consisting of less built elements and a strict limit between the park and city. This is currently in its study phase. == References ==
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