Ugwuanyi inaugurates Enugu Unity Park

Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday inaugurated the Unity Park newly developed by his administration for public use as a tourist attraction and a place for relaxation.

Inaugurating the park amid jubilation by residents and tourists, Ugwuanyi said that the project offers the people of Enugu State an opportunity to relive the past when the city urbanization had not obliterated recreation areas.

Speaking at the inauguration, the governor noted that the development was in line with his urban renewal programme.

He said his administration through the development of the Unity Park located adjacent to the popular Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu, responded to a yawning gap in the lifestyle of the Coal City.

He disclosed that the park had a reinforced concrete pedestrian walkway measuring about 1.9 kilometres, monumental concrete roaring lion sculpture measuring 42 feet high, 72 feet long and 24 feet wide aired-conditioned spacious interior that seats about fifty (50) persons, and a large water pond deep enough to offer the hydrodynamics for boat riding, among other interesting features.
He noted that it was widely believed that the sculpture of a giant roaring lion at the park currently interrogates existing world records on lion sculpture.

Ugwuanyi revealed that his administration had applied to World Records Organisations “to review this and allocate to us our rightful place in world history.

“The serene ambience of the Unity Park is like no other and conduces to relaxation, deep reflection and critical thinking” while “the background tranquilising songs of birds that visit the water pond to quench their thirst will lift your mood.”

Ugwuanyi, therefore, assured the public that his administration would ensure that measures were taken to guarantee adequate maintenance and cleanliness of the park as well as security of the visitors to the tourist attraction.

He explained the state’s urbanisation trajectory transcended population concentration, changes in behavioural patterns, replacement of the natural environment with artificial structures and increasing complexity in the functions of the area.

He said: “This challenged the ecosystem and biodiversity of this emerging urban centre. The early colliery activities, growth in population and other commercial activities put pressure on land and housing in the city.

“The Coal City further grew rapidly due to its strategic role as regional and state capital as well as its status as a preferred location for peaceful living, business and investment.
“The efforts by successive administrations to increase the housing stock in the city led to the de-zoning of most of the residual Open Spaces/Green Spaces and Recreation Areas. The tourism potential of the Coal City was sub-optimised, its ambience challenged, and the residents yearned for a new paradigm.

“Our administration responded to this yawning gap in the Coal City lifestyle by approving the development of the Unity Park, Enugu, in October 2019 at this location”, Ugwuanyi said.
In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Ugonna Ibe, commended Ugwuanyi for the landmark feat in enhancing Enugu State’s status in local and international tourism.

According to him, after the demise of the Zoological Garden and Polo Park, the state lacked a recreational park to satisfy the ever relaxing needs of both local and international tourists that visit Enugu City in large numbers.
Ibe maintained that the newly developed park would assist the state government in attracting tourists, diversifying her economic base and creating jobs for the teeming youth.