Pardisan Park
Pardisan Park (Persian: پارک پردیسان – Pārk e Pardisān) is a complex covering more than 270 hectares, located in the northwest of Tehran. It is connected to Hemmat Expressway in the north, and to Sheikh Nouri Expressway in the east.
| Pardisan Park | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Persian fallow deer doing a mating-dance | |
| |
| Type | Urban wild |
| Designer | Ian McHarg |
| Operated by | Department of Environment |
| Status | Open all year |
History
The original design of the park is attributed to Ian McHarg of the University of Pennsylvania.[1]
The planning phase of the park was begun by Wallace McHarg Roberts & Todd in 1975, under the reign of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.[2] Due to the conflicts of the 1979 Revolution, the project was suspended, and the firm was left with a large amount of debt. The site was retained as a green space after the revolution but the designs of Wallace McHarg Roberts & Todd were never implemented.
Facilities
It is primarily an educational, research and cultural center, with the objective of environmental studies, and is a multipurpose project aimed at increasing public awareness about natural environment.
Several animals live in the park; including monkeys, rabbits, and the Pallas's cats. In addition to the wildlife park, the complex contains playgrounds, a theater, and a biodiversity museum.
References
- Ian McHarg (1920–2001) – Landscape Architect, Patrick Alexander
- Schnadelbach, R. Terry, et al. "Ian McHarg 1920–." Fifty Key Thinkers on the Environment (7 Dec 2000): 228–241. Environment Complete