Officials reopen refurbished Jadriya Lake Park in Karadah

Photo By Spc. Grant Okubo | Artists display their talents as they paint works of art during "Karadah Day" and the reopening of Jadriya Lake Park in the Karadah District of southeast Baghdad, Aug. 22, 2008.  

RUSTAMIYAH, IRAQ

08.22.2008

Story by Spc. Grant Okubo 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Grant Okubo
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq – An estimated 2,250 Iraqi citizens witnessed a step toward a return to normalcy as local officials reopened Jadriya Lake Park in the Karadah District of eastern Baghdad, Aug. 22, 2008.

Government officials, security force leaders, contractors, and Soldiers who all worked together to restore the lake and surrounding grounds joined the people in celebrating the successful lake reopening.

Karadah District Council chairman Dr. Mohammed Al Rubeiy, other council members and other local leaders organized and conducted the reopening of Jadriya Lake Park. They planned the event to coordinate with a "Karadah Day" celebration, which infused a lot of food and activities, including art displays, emergency-responder demonstrations, a fun run, swimming and riding Jet Skis.

The Jadriya Lake Park grounds encompass approximately 400,000 square meters, and the lake itself is about 300,000 square meters – more than one-tenth of a mile around, explained Capt. Sean O'Brien. Originally, the lake opened in January 2003, said O'Brien, the effects coordinator for 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

"It is a very large water park," said Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Allen, a non-commissioned officer assigned to the 5th Bn., 25th FA effects cell. "It's a good place for families to go to and just relax and enjoy family time," emphasized the Daytona Beach, Fla. native.

Before the park closed, about 50,000 people visited the water park on weekdays and about 250,000 Iraqi enjoyed Jadriya Lake on weekends, estimated O'Brien.

Allen said a lot of people worked extremely hard to reopen the water park. According to Allen, the project had several phases.

The first phase was cleaning the water park, clearing rubble, beautifying the park and getting water flowing. Phases two and three mostly involved adding accents to the park area, which included installing basketball poles and benches, painting and making more beautification measures. During this phase of the process, 5th Bn., 25th FA Soldiers approached local small-businessmen about opening shops and stands in the water park. There will be small shops opening and adding economic stimulus in the area, commented Allen, who said he was impressed with the effects of the project.

"The results of the project have been phenomenal," said Maj. Robert Machen, 5th Bn., 25th FA, battalion executive officer. The project isn't finished, with only two of three phases complete, so there are still plenty of great things to come from this project, said Machen, a College Station, Texas native. These upcoming treats of phase three include restaurants, a boat ramp and paddle boats, he said.

Even though coalition forces attended the Jadriya Lake Park reopening, they represented only a small percentage of security personnel at the event. Iraqi security forces provided most of the security, said Machen.

The reopening of the lake park brings with it hope for and a hint of a return to normalcy, particularly for members of the Department of Tourism. Eventually, Iraqi tourism officials hope to use a project such as this one to send the message to the rest of the world, explained Machen. The message is that Iraq has something to offer, just like other major cities such as Paris, London and New York City, relayed Machen, saying that hopefully this will positively affect commerce in the region.

"I am very happy about this successful event," said Rose Hadag, an Iraqi woman who attended the event. Other Iraqi citizens openly expressed their happiness about the Jadriya Lake Park reopening and shared their hopes that Iraq will continue to grow and improve as it emerges from the shadows of terrorism and fanaticism.

• Date Taken: 08.22.2008
• Date Posted: 08.24.2008 11:43
• Story ID: 22817
• Location: RUSTAMIYAH, IQ