Soldiers Help to Turn Abandoned Carnival Into Public Park

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. Jerry Saslav, USA

[SandRat]

BAGHDAD, Oct. 30, 2008 – Dover Park, as it is known by Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, sat abandoned for years. Located in the Qahira neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district, its carnival rides were unusable, and the land was overgrown with weeds.

Army 1st Lt. Rosita Rodriguez pushes two Iraqi children on a ride at the Oct. 28, 2008, grand opening of Dover Park in the Qahira neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“As I drove by the Army canal every day, I saw this park, and I said, ‘This is something we can do to help the citizens,’” Army Col. John Hort, commander of the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said.

Rehabilitating the park became the mission of Army 1st Lt. Rosita Rodriguez, a civil affairs team chief in Multinational Division Baghdad with Company C, 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to the 3rd BCT. Work on the park was completed in two months, and soldiers handed it over to the local neighborhood council Oct. 28.

“This is our first park in Qahira. We never had one before,” said Mohamed Madaloom, the Qahira Neighborhood Assistance Council chairman.

The park has a small pond with a generator-run fountain, complete with a flock of geese, as well as benches, solar lights, several swings, slides and seesaws. A tiled path is lined with flowers, and new grass has been planted. A gardener and a security guard will be hired, Madaloom said.

The park is intended to be self-sufficient, and seven small kiosks will be rented to vendors. The rent will provide an income stream to buy fuel for the generator and pay the staff’s salaries and other expenses.

“Everybody admires the park. I know the families are so excited to get here,” said Madaloom, who, along with other local officials and coalition forces leaders, gathered for the official handover. Iraqi officials and Hort raised the Iraqi flag to symbolize the opening of the park as doves were released. Some families and their children couldn’t wait; they were already on the rides.

“I’m so pleased; our kids aren’t able to go many places because of the security situation. I am so pleased that we have such a park in our neighborhood,” said Aum Achmed, who was there with her daughter and a niece. “It’s important for every kid to have a place to go to.”

The younger set agrees. “It’s good. It used to be awful before. I wouldn’t even look at it before,” said Mostfa, a 3-year-old Iraqi child, before running off to a nearby slide.

(Army Sgt. Jerry Saslav serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq

	Worado, 6, and 1st Lt. Rosita Rodriguez try out a new swing Oct. 28, 2008, during the grand opening of Dover Park in the Qahira neighborhood in Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	A father pushes his son on a swing at the Oct. 28, 2008, grand opening of Dover Park in the Qahira neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Army Col. John Hort, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, helps local officials raise the Iraqi flag at the Oct. 28, 2008, grand opening of Dover Park in the Qahira neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Children ride on a swing at the Oct. 28, 2008, grand opening of Dover Park in the Qahira neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Two girls try out a slide at the Oct. 28, 2008, grand opening of Dover Park in the Qahira neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jerry Saslav   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

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[Travis McGee]

God Bless Our Troops!!!

[ScottinVA]

That’s right! God bless our VICTORIOUS troops. The war is WON, America. Get used to it, Dems!!!!

[SueRae]

Now that is the most refreshing story I have read all week. Thank you SandRat for posting these success stories, the U.S. Armed Forces do miracles every day. Heartwarming.

[rlmorel]

This is the kind of stuff that happens all the time...one playground...one school...one job center at a time.

It all counts.

[Longtom]

I argee, most refreshing. Think of what our troops did in the way of ‘’community organizing’’ in Baghdad as oppossed to what Obambi ever did. God Bless our men and women serving everyone.(and remember them at USO.org)

[RightOnline]

You absolutely NAILED it......perfectly. This....is true community organizing; helping communities a neighborhood at a time, not trying to use them to steal votes. That is all Obama, et al, ever did.

These kids of ours over there (hey, I’m well over 50....they’re kids to me :) ) are amazing, and I’m so proud of ALL of them. They didn’t have to do this. They did this because we are Americans, and.........this is what we do.

The Obamas of the world will never understand that. Ever.

[autumnraine]

That is the most beautiful thing EVER. Those pictures are right up there in my book to the purple finger photos.

[nodumbblonde]

There are no finer people in the world than our military guys and gals. I thank God for them every day!

[Cheapskate]

And those Pussbags Turbin Durbin and Murtha are NOWHERE TO BE SEEN!