Maçka Demokrasi Parkı'nın İrdelenmesi

Abstract

Ülkemizde giderek önem kazanan parklar sadece yeşil alan ve gezinti yerleri değil, aynı zamanda çeşitli bahçe kültürlerini yansıtan, spor etkinlikleri alanı ve kültür sanat merkezi olarakta işlev görmektedirler. 1993 yılında hizmete açılan Maçka Demokrasi Parkı yeni bir analayışla hazırlanmış ve beklediği ilgiyi çok fazlasıyla görmüş, spor, sağlık, dinlenme, kültür ve sanat tesisleri ile otoparkları içeren bir semt parkımızdır. Üstelik tüm bunların kapladığı alan parkın % 7 sini geçmemektedir. Demokrasi Parkı' nda bulunan değişik havuzlar, kafeler, teleferik, çocuk oyun bahçeleri vb halkın ilgisini fazlasıyla çekmektedir. İstanbul' daki en büyük ve etki alanı en geniş semt parkı olan Maçka Demokrasi Parkı yapım amacına tamamen ulaşmış ender parklanmızdandır. Kullanıcı kitle ile yapılan anket soruşturmaları sonucu park aydınlatması, güvenlik ve bakım dışında kayda değer tenkite rastlanmadığı gibi çeşitli övgülerle karşılaşılmıştır. Bu parkın plan ve projesinde teknik ve bilimsel veriler yanında halkın fikir ve ihtiyaçlarının göz önünde bulundurulması parkın yapım amacına ulaşmasındaki en önemli etken olmuştur. İstanbul gibi metropol bir kentte böyle daha nice parklara ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Amaca ulaşmak; parka yapım aşamasında verilen önemin, yapım sonrasın ada devam ettirilmesi yönetimlerin çabaları yanısıra ziyaretçilerinde aynı derecede gösterecekleri hassasiyetle mümkün olacaktır.

An overall analysis of the Maçka Democracy Park Up until 1990, the Democracy Park of Maçka was known for its partial wild and natural composition and partly for its Openan Theatre, it mostly exhibited an abandoned appearance. The park is overwhelmingly affected by a very dense population of people in its surroundings, mismanaged construction of buildings, pollution and very crowded traffic. The socio-economic situation of the people in its surroundings reflect the problems of the immigrants who migrated to Istanbul from the rural parts. The increasing demand for the establishment of " green areas " brought about the need for a modem park in this vicinity. Efforts were put in to rehabilitate this area which was once a vacant lot used by vagabonds to grow lettuce and vegetables. The main goal of the rehabilitation project was to turn this area into a multi functional park to be utilized by people of all age groups for the resting, recreation and sports activities. The major functional aspect that was considered for this park during the reconstraction phase was that it should be a place of " physical and mental resting " area. The equipment elements that are found in the park can be grouped under five headings: sports, resting, recreation, cultural and administrtive facilities. fX The park is located on two hillsides. The Taşkışla Hillside ( the western hillside ) is mainly used for culturel activities since it is surrounded by touristic facilities including hotels and paths go between the various establishment Among the culturel activities that are organized ther are areas for open exhibition for arts and crafts, workships, shops for selling arts and crafts products, plant culture and botanical gardens and an amphitheatre with 200 seats for musical shows. The eastern hillside, Maçka hillside, is used mainly for resting and sports activities. The shade areas and the sunning areas are ideal enviroinment for sports activities any time of the day. Transportation and pedestrian paths have been included in the overall structure in a way as not to disturb the natural aspect of this part of the park. A bridge for pedestrians matching beautifully with the landscape connects the Maçka side with the Taşkışla side. Besides both hillsides are traversed with pebestrian trails in a nort-south direction. The ramps provide pathways for babycarts and wheelchairs of disabled people. A cable lift recently established provides public transportation for mases besides provides opportunites for a panoramic overlook above the park. For those who drive to the park an underground parking lot provides service without disturbing the natural look of the environment. In order to blend the constructions with the natural surroundings great care was given to the choise of place, planning and lanscaping around the buildings. The facilities planned within the master plan are such that the eastern hillside, Maçka side is mainly set aside for sports, recreation and game areas while the western hillside, Taşkışİa side is planned for mainly cultural activities. The two tea houses located at rarery trodden areas, provide both a financial income and a beatiful panaroma over looking Bosphorous towers Üsküdar. On the side of the entrance to the Maçka Hotel there is loketed the administration headquarters of the Municipality Park and Gardens Department The adzacent buildings include work areas, heating center, health center, clinic and first aid, lavatories, private cabins for changing clothes for those who wish to go jogging, showers, book sale shops and two clubhouses. The arts and crafts courtyard, include exhibition areas, tea house for artisians and related facilities. The master plan is based on the principle which is to distrub the natural quality minimally while constructing buildings on the park premises. Service roads and paths lead one to the facilities. Providing a quit and natural environment the park attracts people both for and near who came there for recreation, resting and sports activities. Since the park is surrounded by highly populated districts and several university campuses, its capacity is nearly sufficent for providing services to people during week days. On weekends the capacity is overwhelmed by a high number of visitors. XI People who have migrated to Istanbul from the rural parts have a different understanding about the use and functions of a park. They usually think oh the park as a place to go for picnic. So they go about spreading sheet and carpets over the grass areas disturbing the flora and flora and compacting the sail underneath it besides wastes and pollution Lack of a sufficent number of guards and stoff on duty patrolling the park leads to unsufficient uncontrolled management resulting in great damage to the facilities and grounds. Vendors often wonder in and without any limitations, children obey no restrictions as to where to play and where to stop there by damage and pollution become unpreventable outcome. The only way to prevent such on outcome is by colucating the people for a city culture way of life and by having enough staff on duty to warn any misbehaviors. During, my interviews with people and while conducting my questionnaire I was told by several people that since not enough care is provided the park is progressively losing its beauty and specialness. One of the observations was that since lavatories are charged very expensivelly and they are not kept clean many people apparently take care of their needs in the quiet corners of the park creating unsanitory conditions for the rest of the people. The park today seems to mainly ruction as an outing place and a picnic area One suggestion to preserve the park 's natural and original qualities and to prevent the damege done by an over the capacity number of visitors is to charge a minimum fee for entrance to the park. XI 1 Since the lighting system is partly not working and since there are not enough guards and park keepers it is not used as much after sunset The irrigation system which has not been renoveted and repaired ever since it was built, does not provide enough water for the plants. Another problem is the parking lot which was never opened for service leads people to make attempts to park their cars on the park premises. The fountains do not usually work either especially on weekends this causes a big problem. In summary; The rehebilitation of the park has been a very valuable effort both for the general public and for the local people living near the park. As a result of the renavation project the variety and the number of visitors increased in number. The park is its final composition now addressesthe needs of a greater and wider age groups in the community. But then again because of the lack of staffing and unsufficient management the appearance of the park started looking like the pre- renovation period.