Groot Park
{{Short description|City Park of the city of Aalst.}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Cleanup reorganize|date=November 2022}}
{{Notability|1=Geographic|date=November 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2022}}
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{{Infobox protected area
| name = Groot Park
| alt_name = Park schepen de Wolf
| iucn_category =
| photo = C2 0006 aalst stadspark1 - 367175 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = The Groot park/stadspark of Aalst or Park schepen de Wolf
| photo_width =
| map = Belgium
| relief = 1
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Belgium
| map_width =
| location = East Flanders
| nearest_city = Aalst, Belgium
| coordinates = {{Coord|50.93032|4.046294|region:US-WI|display=title,inline}}
| area_acre = 37
| established = 1915
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = Flanders Heritage Agency
| url =
}}
The Groot park or Park schepen de Wolf or city park of Aalst (stadspark) is a park in the Belgian city of Aalst. It can be regarded as an artificial nature domain with a recreational-educational function. The park covers an area of approximately {{convert|15|hectare|acre}}. The city park is located south of the city center. It is bordered by the Parklaan, Désiré De Wolfstraat and Erembodegemstraat.
The park is protected by the Flanders Heritage Agency.{{Cite web |title=Stadspark Groot Park |url=https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/213 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be |language=nl}}
It is located between the urban sports fields and the industrial zone on the Dender. In the south, the park flows into the Osbroek nature reserve, which covers almost {{convert|25|hectare|acre}}.{{Cite web |title=Stadspark Groot Park |url=https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/213 |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be |language=nl}} The park is 800 meters away from De grote markt of Aalst.{{Cite web |title=Stad Aalst |url=https://www.aalst.be/artikel/stadspark |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.aalst.be |language=nl}}
The park was built in 1915 and the construction was a way to give jobless people a job. In the park there's the Melkhuisje (milk-house), a restaurant that is open since 1916, originally selling milk, now a restaurant. Since 2023 they're searching for a new owner of het Melkhuisje, its future is therefore uncertain.{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2023-01-25 |title=Aalst lanceert nieuwe oproep voor uitbater horecazaak Melkhuisje in stadspark |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/01/25/aalst-lanceert-nieuwe-oproep-voor-uitbater-horecazaak-melkhuisje/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}
Yearly the free Parkconcerten are hosted in the stadspark of Aalst. In 2023 Pommelien Thijs was the main act.{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2023-08-09 |title=20 extra agenten en geen koelboxen, stoelen of tafels: Aalst maakt zich op voor komst Pommelien Thijs |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/08/09/20-extra-agenten-en-geen-frigoboxen-stoelen-of-tafels-aalst-ma/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}} There were 12 000 visitors to the concert.{{Cite web |title=KIJK. Pommelien Thijs geeft knaloptreden in stadspark: “12.000 fans bouwden feestje” |url=https://www.hln.be/aalst/kijk-pommelien-thijs-geeft-knaloptreden-in-stadspark-12-000-fans-bouwden-feestje~a8c4ac3d/}}
History
The park was created in the year 1915–1916, the ground was a part of the Osbroek, which is in its turn a remain of the Silva Carbonaria. The Osbroek was described in the 13th century as swamp-forest. The grounds were originally never edited because of its low grounds. In the 18th century they used the area as to win turf. They placed alders for their wood. When World War I was going on, the Osbroek started really turning into a park. Which it officially became by March 1916 after 8 months of work.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-27 |title=Stadspark in Aalst |url=https://www.natuurenbos.be/beleid-wetgeving/stadsbos/stadspark-aalst |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos |language=nl}} The park was designed by Louis Breydel.
Factory Du Parc was named after the park.{{Cite web |title=Geschiedenis {{!}} du Parc, Aalst. Verleden wordt toekomst » |url=https://www.duparc.be/geschiedenis/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=du Parc |language=nl}}
= Biodiversity =
Circa 1990 had Bart Backaert, a worker of Groendienst Aalst, the idea to remove a part of the lawns. The idea was to create a better easthetic and ecological diversity. The result was: rare wild orchids. the Ballonvijver (balloon-pond), has blue Prunella.{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2022-06-17 |title=Zeldzame orchideeën in stadspark Aalst dankzij oude maaitechniek: "Inspiratie op oude prentkaarten gevonden" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/06/17/bijzonder-maaiproject-stadspark-aalst-zorgt-voor-zeldzame-orchid/ |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}
The park has 100 different types of trees, listing a few: the Quercus rubra, Salix sepulchalis ‘Chrysocoma’ and a Robinia pseudoacacia
External links
- [https://dendrologie.be/nl/content/96 List of the noteworthy trees in the park]
Gallery
File:Spiegelvijver Aalst 2022aug 4.jpg|The spiegelvijver (mirror-pond).
File:C2 0006 aalst stadspark2 - 367087 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg
File:C2 0006 aalst stadspark5 - 367319 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg
File:Park 2 aalst.jpg
File:C2 0006 aalst stadspark3 - 367147 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg|The labyrinth.
File:C2 0006 aalst stadspark6 - 367139 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg
File:C2 0006 aalst stadspark1 - 367175 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg|The balloon pond.
File:Stadspark Aalst Roodkapje beeld2022.jpg|Little Red Riding Hood in the park.
File:C2 0006 aalst stadspark3 - 367147 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg|The maze.
File:Aalst preved.JPG|Preved in the city park.