Residents Help Maintain American University of Armenia's Adjacent Park

Since its establishment in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) has seen the construction of several buildings that serve and are part of its educational complex, including an adjacent park. Previously, the park was much larger and was utilized by both students and residents of nearby buildings.

However, with the construction of a new building next to the main university building, the park's area was reduced to allocate space for the new structure. Local residents have reported to the Yerevan municipality that the park, which used to be well-maintained through municipal efforts, has been drying out for several years now.

In the spring of 2020, tree-planting efforts began in the park, with workers coming in to prepare the soil for planting trees. However, while holes were dug, no new trees were added. Seyran, a resident of one of the adjacent buildings, occasionally waters the park and shares these updates.

The university's press center stated that tree-planting activities had taken place, and though the work was carried out by the Arabkir municipality, the onset of the pandemic hindered further planting efforts. Seyran noted, “There needs to be care for the park; a woman comes every day to collect the trash piled in the bins, and a man is supposed to handle the irrigation, but he lacks the necessary resources to water the entire area.”

Seyran ensures he waters some parts of the park, but he can’t do it every day. “When I decide to visit the park, I take a bucket to fill from the fountain and water the trees,” he explained.

According to him, residents sometimes take it upon themselves to water areas of the park since certain sections are neglected. “There’s no fault of the person doing the irrigation; the hose is simply too long. Four years ago, there was irrigation capability, with large pipes providing water, but now they are non-functional for various reasons,” he added.

In 2017, the Yerevan municipality granted a 25-year lease to the American University of Armenia Foundation for a land area of 6426.89 square meters adjacent to the educational building, with a commitment to invest at least 300 million AMD in improvements and maintenance over a period of ten years.

The Foundation communicated that efforts for daily cleaning and maintenance are ongoing. “Currently, the park is under AUA's care, and the team works daily to keep the area clean. A gardener has also been assigned to care for the trees and mow the grass. Thanks to AUA's initiatives, the area is now properly illuminated, and benches and gazebos have been repaired and painted,” the press office stated.

Furthermore, AUA plans to implement complex measures to transform the park into a “smart” public space, which will include innovative solutions for energy and irrigation systems, enhance green cover, provide accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and promote environmental efficiency. Notably, in 2019, AUA received a grant of $752,410 from the U.S. Agency for International Development for the park's improvement.

However, Seyran noted that no tangible changes have yet occurred. “There have been no significant changes; the only visible work is that holes have been dug for planting trees, but no trees have been planted,” he claimed.

The university’s communication office also indicated that before implementing the project, AUA conducted a survey among its students, staff, and local residents to consider their opinions and suggestions for the park’s improvement. Yet, a concrete decision or project plan is still pending as AUA is currently engaged in an open competition to select a specialized architectural and landscape design organization, and proposed solutions and drawings will be submitted for municipal approval.