Saryan Park Project
The ArmeniaDiaspora.com office in Yerevan has undertaken a program that will upgrade and improve selected public parks in Yerevan. The Armenian capital is a city of parks and public spaces which make its residents proud, and contribute greatly to the city's charm and appeal.

The first project is Martiros Saryan Park at Opera Square. This park, with the grand statue of the master, is in the heart of the city, and the site of weekend art fairs.

The project foresees the following immediate improvements:

  • Planting of grass, trees and flower beds
  • Installation of night Lighting
  • Installation of park benches
  • Installation of trash cans
  • Installation of public toilets
  • ... and more

Work began on February 15, and will continue throughout the spring. The aim is to bring the park to international standards and turn it over to the city for maintenance.

Please click here to contact us, take part in this worthwhile project and support it through financial contributions or in-kind donations like gardening tools, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, seeds etc.

Our thanks and appreciation goes to the following fellow Armenians who have helped make this project possible:

Name Helped with Country of residence
Anonymous  Purchase and Shipment of chain saw, irrigation equipment and accessories, water hoses, portable irrigation equipment. USA
May 16, 2001
Avakian, Vahe Volunteer daily supervision of work at the park. Yerevan, Armenia
(Since March 2001)
Khachikian, Oshin Purchase and air freight shipment of motorized lawn mower and leaf blower Glendale, California, USA
May 7, 2001
Havan, Alfred Purchase and shipment of 150 Kg of grass seeds Teheran, Iran
April, May, 2001
Hovsep Shipping of additional 75 Kg of grass seeds Teheran, Iran
April, 2001
     

Below you will find a progress-report on this project.

Work started on February 15, 2001,  ArmeniaDiaspora.com office received authorization from Yerevan's mayor and Parks and Recreation department to start work. City government placed a sign at the park the same day. 
2 sections of the park (about 1000 square meters total) were allocated for the first stage. Cleanup and and grading work started immediately and it  took a week before the soil was ready for planting. 

Fertilizer and soil were mixed in a section of the park which is not included in the first phase of the project.. 
Planting of grass seeds started on March 1, 2001, the fertile soil was mixed with fertilizer and laid on top of the seeds to protect them from the birds, who have a particular appetite for seed :-) 

While we wait literally "watching the grass to grow"...
We contact Movsissyan rock cutting factory to prepare the "basalt" stone benches for the park.

On March 20-th 2001, our volunteer consulting architect Vahe Avakian is shown standing next to the "basalt" which will turn into park benches in a few days time.
Here is the carving / cutting machinery, which 
will transform the huge pieces of basalt into benches 
that will be placed in Saryan Park.

This shows the carving machine from a different angle...
Here is a picture of the machine at work .


It is March 21, 2001 and the seeds have started germinating. Green grass patches are becoming visible. Rainy weather has been a help too.
Meanwhile on March 22, 2000 there is movement on the park's "future benches" project.
March 27, 2001 - The stone has been cut and it will yield 4 park benches. March 31, 2001 - Our future park benches are waiting at the factory ready to be installed.


April 3, 2001 - With warmer than usual spring weather in Yerevan and frequent rains, the grass has started to grow. It is still too fragile to be walked on.


April 3, 2001 - View of the park and sidewalk.


April 3, 2001 - Barring complications, the installation of benches are scheduled for tomorrow.


Benches were delivered to the site by a "RAF" (minibus) and placed as close as possible to where they were to be installed. While residents of the neighborhood stood by, overseeing the process and making enthusiastic comments and suggestions.


Position of each bench was carefully fine tuned and adjusted. 


The whole process took about 3 hours from start to finish and every one had a pleasant sense of accomplishment..

May 8, the grass is already being cut by the loan mower which had been donated by Oshin Khachikian...

The workers hired for making real the "Saryan Park Project"...
Another part of the Saryan Park is now undergoing the same stages of improvement...
Now in addition the park will have these nice torches which will make the place unique and brighter in the evenings.