Park Mlaka is yet another spot in my town that I wish to describe, photoshoot and represent here on Steemit. It was projected by dr. Filibert Bazarig ( examples of his work include participation in the building and restoration of the Municipio Palace, City Tower, parks and promenades ) and building started in 1874. under a town's mayor Giovannija Ciotte.
Source
An old picture of Park Mlaka from the archives.
It was said that this huge garden was supposed to serve as a border between the town's center and western suburbs and to represent a so-called entrance to the historical core of the town.
The park was created on the former residential property of Baron Juraj Vranyczany from which the Municipality bought the land.
Juraj Vranyczany (Rijeka, 30.1.1838 - Rijeka, 21.2.1925), President of "Organization for the Advancement of Croation in Rijeka", founded in 1905; a longtime president of the Croatian National Library in Rijeka.
The park is also known under the name the Giardino Pubblico, or in translation to English, a Public Garden. Its purpose was obvious. It should have been a main public leisure place and a walking trail ( promenade).
Source
Giardino Pubblico - archives
During the past but also today, the park is used for meetings, conferences, and concerts. Park got the arranged flower bed and educational exhibits.
Original picture by me, a flower bed on the entrance of a park.
The educational exhibits that include a music fence and sound mirror are set recently ( 2016) and regretfully I have to say they are the constant victims of vandalism.
My own pictures taken today - music fence and sound mirror
Spacial place of the park was irrigated by natural springs and was occupying far larger surface than today.
The original actual size of a park was 37 000 square meters, it is facing south that provides the an abundance of sun and it is also well-protected against vicious and harsh wind called Bora.
A park was made of two main parts and three levels, an each featured in a different way and sporting two artificial caves.
One part had a basin with golden fishes, while today we have an artificial 'fountain' that features a simple pipe and pack of frogs.
Original pictures by me, featuring two caves, dried up stream and a little pond being a center piece of a park.
In modern times its size was reduced due to the growing number of buildings in surrounding residential blocks that also includes parking lots, bus stations, sidewalks, streets, schools, playgrounds and local kindergartens. All these services and buildings slowly but securely claimed a chunk of a huge green area for themselves.
During the 1930s Union home was built on the western side and during the 1960s the Recreational center on its eastern side.
During the 1950s the lower portion of a park was reshaped because of the building of a city street. The upper side of a park preserved its original look, but it should be expected that it will be changed in the future and altered to contains more flower beds and more resilient flora.
Laurel live fences, children's playground inside of a park and main paths.
Nevertheless, a park is still pretty lovely green place, wonderfully lit, with the rich flora and numerous bird species. As regular visitors, we usually walk around, take photos of plants, flowers or just play in the playground area.
The upper part of a park is covered in oak and laurel trees, with some that are quite interesting to picture.
A walk-through the park's paths.
A park's outdoors lighting is set in a way that the visitors can enjoy walking even during the night hours, so in case anyone suffers insomnia they can easily spend time inside of this huge city arboretum.
A park still has a natural creek which was reinforced to prevent flooding during the heavy rainfalls. During the hot summer season a creek drys out, but usually, it is active.
A canal system, little pond and more.
As it was projected on the slope, park paths are crossed by numerous water drainage canals to ensure maximum efficiency of the place. These drainage canals have to be fixed and cleaned from time to time otherwise they malfunction and sloped pathways and patios start to look like a miniature waterfalls, which is kind of cool if you have a pair of rubber boots. In any other scenario, it is an epic struggle that results with wet footwear and an up to knees loss of the structural dryness.
For the end a made a few panoramic captures of the park.