Verdi Park in Floreasca: the Park Bought by the Bucharest City Hall

A small park in Floreasca

Verdi Park (Parcul Verdi) is in the Floreasca area. The mayor of Sector 2 spoke in 2021 about 4.6 hectares, while Bursa wrote in 2018 about 46,088 square meters, in seven plots. Spotmedia also used a figure of 5.6 hectares, so we do not give the exact area.

The park and the restitution

According to Bursa, the park was built by the former owner of the Floreasca estate, on the site of a former hippodrome. The land was returned to its former owners years ago, and the space was left neglected.

In September 2018, the Bucharest General Council had on its agenda the purchase of the seven plots, at a price of €1,080 per square meter, almost €50 million in total. Spotmedia wrote in 2021 that the Bucharest City Hall bought the park during Gabriela Firea’s term as mayor.

A plot put to commercial use

In 2019, ALPAB (the Bucharest Lakes, Parks and Recreation Administration) made 2,750 square meters of the park available for commercial use for 25 years, through a joint venture agreement (contract de asociere în participațiune). A sports field and a building with changing rooms, a bar, a reception and a terrace were to be built on the land. The mayor of Sector 2, Radu Mihaiu, publicly challenged the contract in June 2021.

The Sector 2 plan

On July 16, 2021, the mayor of Sector 2 proposed to the Local Council a draft decision to take over the park from ALPAB’s management in order to redevelop it. The project is called “Landscaping of Verdi Park” (“Amenajare peisagistică Parcul Verdi”). The City Hall was seeking funding from the Bucharest–Ilfov Regional Operational Program 2021–2027 and from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In February 2022, according to Newsweek, Sector 2 asked the General Council for an addition to the 2021 decision, which concerns the association contract with ALPAB. We did not find in the sources we read whether the park was transferred or redeveloped.

Frequently asked questions

Who bought Verdi Park?

The Bucharest City Hall, during Gabriela Firea’s term, according to Spotmedia. The land had been returned to private individuals.

How large is Verdi Park?

About 4.6 hectares, according to the mayor of Sector 2. Bursa gives 46,088 square meters in 2018, and Spotmedia also used a figure of 5.6 hectares.

Is Verdi Park being redeveloped?

In 2021, Sector 2 prepared a landscaping project and asked to take over the park. The sources we read do not show whether work has started.