Usce park to have seven zones – We present conceptual design of Belgrade's green oasis

Renowned Danish architect Jan Gehl has presented the conceptual design for the 80-ha park at Usce to the Belgrade city authorities. The area bordered by Nikole Tesle Blvd, from Branko's Bridge to Hotel Jugoslavija in Zemun, will be divided in seven zones, Novosti writes, as reported by Beoinfo.

The biggest city park will feature the Movement Zone – the promenade should include jogging paths, bicycle renting and parking spots and children's playgrounds with push scooter and roller skate areas. The Nature Zone should be redolent of wild nature, featuring animal sculptures and forest replicas. The park will also feature zones of music, art, science, water and Zone Serbia.

Mayor Sinisa Mali says that the conceptual design fully fits the strategy of opening the city towards the river.

– This will be a multiple-purpose park, it will serve for recreation, enjoyment, fun and walking. There will be separate areas for children. It's especially important that it will be well-lit and much safer than it is now – Mali explains.

According to the mayor, the plan entails the realization of the old idea of construction a gondola, connecting the park to Kalemegdan.

– The starting idea was to model the project on Moscow's Gorky Park or Copenhagen's Tivoli. We want Belgrade to have a park whose beauty can match that of the most beautiful gardens in Europe and Russia – Sinisa Mali concludes.

According to the city architect, Milutin Folic, the studio of the Danish architect suggest that the zones should be an extension of the already planned and existing features. The Music Zone could lean on the future Philharmonic building, the Palace of Serbia might be linked to Zone Serbia, the Art Zone might make a whole with the Museum of Contemporary Art, whereas the Nature Zone might be established next to the future museum of natural history.

Zone Serbia should be an area dedicated to Serbia's nature and culture. This small park is planned as a gathering of autochthonous and wide-spread plants from Serbia, along with details and elements of their special cultural features on display. The Water Zone would act as a long promenade, ending with the coastal protrusion, symbolically dedicated to the confluence of the two rivers. The formation of water attractions, a park lake, a stream and fountains has also been proposed.

A promenade dedicated to music will be established at the Usce park. It will feature several open areas meant for music events, playgrounds with instruments, as well as footpaths dedicated to prominent persons. Several promenades will be dedicated to art and science. The paths will connect the Museum of Contemporary Art and a range of exhibits meant to popularize science.

Belgrade to get a Ferris wheel as well?

Belgrade might also get a Ferris wheel modeled after the one in the Viennese Prater. The wheel would be located in the Friendship Park at Usce, as per the plan by Jan Gehl, Blic writes.

He pointed out as one of the arguments in favor of building a Ferris wheel the fact that it would “become a highlight of the city and a tourist attraction”, whereas an argument against it is “the not too attractive view from it”.