Ştefan cel Mare Central Park

Ştefan cel Mare Central Park
The main fountain of Ştefan cel Mare Central Park
Type	Urban park
Location	Central Chişinău, Moldova
Area	7 ha (17 acres)
Created	1818
Operated by	Chişinău City Hall
Status	Open all year

Ştefan cel Mare Central Park (Romanian: Parcul Ştefan cel Mare) is the main park in Central Chişinău, Moldova. Formerly known as Pushkin Park, it is the oldest park in Moldova and spans about 7 hectares (17 acres). It has gained the nickname "The Park of the Lovers" in Chişinău due to its popularity as a meeting spot for couples. The park contains 50 species of trees, some of which are quite old, the mulberries and acacias being between 130 and 180 years.

The park was originally laid out in 1818 by Russian military engineers during the reign of Alexander I. Under the direction of architect Bogdan Eitner, the present-day alleys were created, as well as hundreds of acacias, limes, and flower beds. The park was initially enclosed by a wicker fence to prevent cows, goats, and other animals from entering.

In 1863, at the suggestion of Alexander Bernardazzi, the park was surrounded by a sturdier cast iron fence that was manufactured in Odessa, consisting of 460 chains and weighing 5,400 kilograms (11,900 lb). A statue of Pushkin, who used to stroll the park grounds in the early 1820s, was designed by Russian sculptor Alexander Opekushin and erected in 1885, making Chişinău the second city after Moscow to have a Pushkin monument. Originally funded by the Chişinău inhabitants at the price of 1,000 golden rubles, it is the oldest surviving monument in the city. This was followed by construction of the statue of Ştefan cel Mare at the park's entrance in 1928. The latter monument was designed by the sculptor Alexandru Plămădeală, and in 1989-91 was the focal point of meetings and violent clashes between Moldova’s Nationalists and pro-Soviet supporters.