The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Bethuel Kinyori
24 July 2009
The restoration of Forodhani Park in Zanzibar's historic stone town has been completed, thanks to a $2.4 million (over Sh3 billion) funding by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)).
The popular outing place, one of the attractive features in the Isles will be inaugurated later this month.
The restoration project has transformed the historic park - one of the last open spaces in the densely populated world heritage site - and upgraded its social and recreational amenities.
Works carried out include the restoration of walk ways, landscape, infrastructure upgrading incorporating lighting, sewerage drainage and civic amenities and the rehabilitation of the seawall fronting the park.
Once a location for the main port and landing point for the sultans of Zanzibar, the park has over the years remained a central meeting place for leisure and entertainment.
The AKTC yesterday said over the last decade the park deteriorated due to over-use, prompting the restoration as part of a seafront upscaling in the stone town.
The agreement for the project was signed between President Amani Abeid Karume and His Highness the Aga Khan.
Also proposed, as part of the sea front up scaling is an Indian Ocean maritime museum that will showcase culture including displays of naval vessels, artifacts reflecting the historic, commercial and cultural contacts between Africa, Middle East and India.
The trust has also worked with the Government of Sweden and the Ford foundation to provide training workshops on conservation and traditional construction methods for architects.
The trust has been active in Zanzibar since 1989 and has successfully completed restoring eleven buildings in the stone town.
The AKTC is a part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which over the last 20 years has championed efforts to integrate culture in the broader economic and social programmes.
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