Erbil expands green space with five major new parks

ERBIL — Authorities in Erbil are pressing ahead with the construction of five major public parks in the city center, covering a combined area of 200 dunams (about 50 acres), as part of an effort to expand green space and improve environmental sustainability. The projects are expected to be completed later this year.

According to the Erbil governorate, nearly 40,000 trees of various species will be planted across the new parks.

The largest of the projects, located near 120-Meter Street, spans 80 dunams (20 acres) and will feature around 8,000 trees. Officials said about 70% of construction is complete. Rashkin Park, covering 47 dunams (12 acres), is planned to include 16,000 trees and is currently 50% finished.

In the Nazdar neighborhood, a four-dunam (1-acre) park is expected to host 6,000 trees, with 80% of the work completed. Another park on Zhyan Street spans seven dunams (2 acres) and will have 5,000 trees; construction there is 70% complete. A fifth park, located on 150-Meter Street, will cover 60 dunams (15 acres) and is still under development.

Erbil currently has 26 large parks and 204 smaller gardens, according to the governorate.

In January, the city’s Directorate of Parks and Gardens announced a broader initiative to plant 200,000 trees and flowers in 2025 to increase the city’s greenery and combat environmental degradation. The directorate said green coverage in Erbil’s urban center has reached 20% so far.