Sami Abdul Rahman Park
Public park in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sami Abdul Rahman Park (Kurdish: پارکی سامی عەبدولڕەحمان ,Parka Samî Ebdul Rehman)[1][2] is a park in Erbil, Kurdistan Region in Iraq.
| Sami Abdul Rahman Park | |
|---|---|
| Parkî Samî Ebdul Rehman | |
| پارکی سامی عەبدولڕەحمان | |
One of Sami Abdul Rahman Park's gates | |
 Interactive map of Sami Abdul Rahman Park | |
| Type | Public park |
| Motto | "Freedom is not free" |
| Location | Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq |
| Nearest city | Erbil |
| Coordinates | 36.191°N 43.984°E |
| Area | 200 hectares (490 acres) |
| Established | 2006 |
| Etymology | Named after Sami Abdul Rahman, former KRG Deputy Prime Minister |
| Operator |  KRG |
| Open | Year-round |
| Status | Open |
| Water | Two lakes |
| Plants | Rose garden |
| Facilities | Restaurant, market, Martyrs Monument |
| Other information | Finish line for the Erbil Marathon |
History
The site was formerly the location of Saddam Hussein's 5th Corps Army military base.[3] Construction of the park began in 1998,[4] and it was completed the same year.[5]
It is named after Sami Abdul Rahman, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government who was killed in a suicide bombing on 1 February 2004, aged 71.[citation needed]
Features
The park is 200 hectares (2.0 km2) in size and contains two lakes, a rose garden and the Martyrs Monument as well as a restaurant and market. It includes a monument with the inscription, "Freedom is not free."[6]
The finish line of the annual Erbil Marathon is in the park.[7]
