Bosnia and Herzegovina

New park for citizens of Velika Kladusa

13/05/2010 - Official opening of the new city park called “Meeting Point” and new traffic roundabout took place at Velika Kladusa city centre.
The idea behind the “Meeting point” is to offer young people and NGOs possibilities to actively create their own public space and to promote own values through the exchange of opinions and information and to increase conscience about its role in the development of Velika Kladusa municipality.

Reconstruction of a city park, symbolically called “Meeting point for nongovernmental organizations” was co-financed by the municipality of Velika Kladusa, as one of 14 partner municipalities within the LOD Project.

This significant ceremony that was opened by Velika Kladusa Mayor Mr. Admil Mulalic and attended by several thousand of citizens marked successful implementation of project activities carried out by two local civil society organizations: “Horizonti”, “Dom VK” in cooperation with the UNDP’s Reinforcement of Local Democracy Project – LOD.

Mr. Mulalic, the mayor, expressed his appreciation to all project counterparts for invested effort, especially UNDP/EU for generous support to civil society organizations which carried out this city park project. He also used an opportunity to thank Governance Accountability Project GAP for their support in modernization and reconstruction of the streets and building of new roundabout at the streets junction.

On behalf of LOD Project, Mr. Samir Omerefendic, Project Manager, also used an opportunity to congratulate citizens of Velika Kladusa for new, beautifully designed, Kladusa landmark expressing his hopes that this ceremony would mark only the beginning of significant collaboration of municipal administration with local civil society organizations. Mr. Omerefendic also emphasized strong support of the European Union to the civil society sector in BiH and particularly in LOD partner municipalities, and crucial role these organizations play in a society.

Info point that represents the central point of the park in Velika Kladusa is designed in the form of famous Kladusa’s earrings and made in a shape of a faced-down pyramid. The original earring dates back in VII century, and as the author herself pointed out, it presents unique product featuring indigenous design of the Kladusa city.

Reinforcement of Local Democracy LOD is the project funded by the European Union (EU), with amount of 1.500.000 EUR, and implemented by the United Nations development Programme (UNDP). The aim of the project is to contribute to democratic stabilization, reconciliation and further development of BiH. The contribution will be made through support to selected municipalities for establishing improved local authority/civil society relations and facilitating financing mechanisms for improved service delivery.