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The
Grand
Park
of
Tirana
(Albanian:
Parku
i
Madh
i
Tiranës),
or
the
Park
on
the
Artificial
Lake,
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.
The
Park
includes
an
artificial
lake
and
many
other
landmarks
such
as
the
Saint
Procopius
Church,
the
Presidential
Palace,
and
memorials
to
several
Albanian
personalities.
It
remains
one
of
the
most
relaxing
places
in
the
city,
despite
increasing
buildings
being
developed
near
the
park,
an
early-morning
run
or
promenade
is
a
daily
routines
for
many
citizens.
To
the
southern
end
of
the
Park,
there
is
the
Zoo
and
the
Botanical
Garden.
The
latter
includes
many
flowers
and
plants
that
are
common
to
the
Albanian
environment.
There
are
almost
120
species
of
trees,
bushes
and
flowers.
The
Botanical
Garden
area
is
of
14.5
hectares
and
the
lake's
size
is
of
55
hectares,
whereas
the
area
of
the
Park
itself
is
of
230
hectares.
The
Park
was
built
between
1955
and
1956
based
on
a
Bulgarian
plan
and
used
to
be
called
the
Gogo
stable,
in
a
green
area.
The
Park
starts
at
the
southern
end
of
the
Dëshmorët
e
Kombit
Boulevard,
after
the
University
of
Tirana,
south
of
the
main
Skanderbeg
Square.
It
was
formerly
called
'Park
of
Saint
Procopius'
(Albanian:
Parku
i
Shën
Prokopit)
from
the
Saint
Procopius
Church,
which
is
located
in
the
area.
In
the
internal
parts,
there
can
be
found
the
memorials
of
45
British
and
Australian
soldiers
fallen
during
World
War
II,
as
well
as
a
memorial
of
hundreds
of
German
soldiers
from
the
same
war.
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.
A
wall
has
been
built
demarcating
the
park's
boundary.
The
Park
is
otherwise
called
the
"Lung
of
the
City"
due
to
the
diversity
of
plants.
It
also
includes
Botanical
Garden
and
the
Zoo
and
also
a
complex
of
swimming
pools.
In
addition
the
Park
has
an
amphitheatre,
where
various
cultural
activities
occur
especially
in
summer
months.
The
artificial
lake
is
a
well
known
fishing
and
also
swimming
area.
The
lake
was
built
from
local
waters
in
1955
on
volunteer
work
to
build
a
400
metres
long
dam
that
holds
the
waters
from
overflowing
onto
Tirana.
It
also
notably
includes
the
Tombs
of
the
Frashëri
brothers,
Abdyl
Frashëri,
Naim
Frashëri
and
Sami
Frashëri.
Also,
in
1998
the
remains
of
Faik
Konitza,
former
Minister
of
Albania
to
Washington,
and
publisher
of
the
Albania
magazine
were
brought
from
the
United
States
and
put
in
a
tomb
located
at
the
park.