Draft:Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Titan) Park

Template:Infocaseta Lac

Administration
Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Titan) Park
Country / Countries	Romania
Geography
Coordinates	44.42305 ° N 26.15673 ° E
Lake surface	85 ha

Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park, also known as IOR Park or Titan Park, is located in Sector 3, Bucharest, and covers an area of approximately 85 hectares. The park’s development began in 1965 and was completed in 1970, serving as a major recreational and green space for the city’s residents.

The acronym for one of the alternative names of the park, IOR, comes from the name of the factory Romanian Optics Enterprise, located in the vicinity.

Location

IOR Park currently Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park is located in the central-eastern part of Bucharest, in sector 3, in the perimeter delimited by Camil Ressu, Liviu Rebreanu, Câmpia Libertății, Constantin Brâncuși, Baba Novac and Nicolae Grigorescu streets. It is the place of recreation for the inhabitants of the neighborhoods Titan, Dristor.

With an area of approximately 85 Ha, it is one of the largest parks in Bucharest. The arrangement of the park began in 1965 and ended five years later. Before arrangement, the section from str. Baba Novac was called "Reconstructions", and the sector from Bd. Camil Ressu (formerly Ion Șulea) is called "Flax". Categorie:Articole care necesită citări suplimentare In this park is the Church "Pogorârea Sfântului" built of wood in Maramures style between 1994-1996.

Lake

In the park is Lake Titan, a lake of natural origin separated by the Liviu Rebreanu bridge in two segments, called Lake Titan 1 and Lake Titan 2. There are five islands on the lake, called „Pensioners' Island ”, „Art Island ”, „Fishermen's Island ” and „Duck Island ”. ^[1]

History and Controversies

Creation of the Park (1965-1970)

The entire area of Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park (formerly known as IOR Park) was developed between 1965 and 1970 as part of an urban planning initiative to create a large green space for residents of Sector 3 in Bucharest. The park was designed around Lake Titan and has since been one of the most important recreational areas in the city.

Controversial Land Restitution and Environmental Destruction

In 2005, a 12-hectare portion of the park was controversially restituted to private owners, sparking legal disputes. Despite challenges to the decision, it was upheld, and in 2019, the area began experiencing illegal deforestation, fires, and tree poisoning, raising concerns from environmentalists. The situation worsened after the owner's death in 2024, with the legal ownership still unclear.

This decision has been widely criticized, as the land was originally part of the public park and was never intended for privatization.

Authorities are considering expropriation while the local community pushes to preserve the remaining green spaces.

For more detailed information, you can check the full greennews.ro article here

Since 2019, this restituted area has suffered numerous fires, illegal deforestation, and deliberate poisoning of trees, allegedly to degrade the land and justify future development. Investigations revealed that several fires were man-made, and local environmental activists have repeatedly raised concerns over the destruction of green spaces. These actions have led to the significant degradation of the park’s green space.

(Aici Ar Putea Fi O Pădure)

Recent Developments

Between the beginning of 2022 and the end of August 2023, there were 15 fires in the approximately 12-hectare restituted area of Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park, resulting in over 2 hectares of green space being burned. In 11 of these cases, the probable cause was identified as discarded cigarettes, while two fires were determined to be intentionally set. The remaining incidents were attributed to open flames that got out of control.
In September 2024, two individuals were investigated for illegally cutting down 50 burned and dried trees from this restituted area. Local authorities have launched an investigation for destruction and environmental damage, highlighting the need for stronger urban green space protections. (B365.ro)
According to ISU București-Ilfov, there were 10 fires in the restituted area of Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park between January and the end of August 2024. At least two of these fires were deliberately set, raising concerns about potential acts of arson.

This adds to the numerous fires recorded in previous years, contributing to the ongoing degradation of the park. Environmental groups and local residents continue to demand urgent intervention from authorities to protect and restore the affected green space. (Buletin de București)

In addition to the ongoing fires, illegal deforestation and deliberate destruction of the park have been reported, sparking outrage from the local community. The area has been severely impacted by these actions, as well as by a lack of effective protection for the park's green spaces. According to a recent Libertatea article, there has been massive destruction within the park, with significant damage done to the trees and natural habitats. Local residents and activists have vigorously protested against the ongoing damage, calling for urgent legal measures to protect this vital green space in Bucharest. (Libertatea)

Community Action and Conservation Efforts to Protect the Park

The local community and various non-governmental organizations launched multiple initiatives to protect and preserve the park, taking action to protect and preserve the park, urging authorities to implement concrete measures to prevent its further destruction.

Activists continue to pressure authorities to reclaim the illegally restituted land and restore it as a protected public green space.

For the latest updates and community efforts, visit the Facebook page of the Grupul de Inițiativă Civică IOR - Titan.