The new Múzeum Parking Garage and the promenade created above it as part of the Liget Budapest Project were opened in. a ceremony on Sunday – writes the MTI.

Speaking at the opening, Gergely Gulyás, Minister for the Prime Minister's Office said that the former Felvonulási Square had historical significance, as not only did it once house the Cit Park Theatre, it was also the site of the Regnum Marianum Church. Now the square has been renovated and car traffic diverted underground. On average, more than 1000 vehicles move through the square each day. To serve these needs, the new garage has 800 spaces, electric car charging, bike racks and showers. The Minister emphasised that 12,000 square metres of green space had been created.

Muzeum Parking Garage opens in City Park (Photo: MT/Balogh Zoltán)

The new promenade and garage opened today were completed as part of the Liger Budapest Project (Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán)

According to the Minister, a new square has opened in the heart of Budapest, which will allow for passage from Stefánia Road to Heroes' Square. The Museum Quarter will be easily accessible on foot and provide families with quality entertainment options, which were previously unavailable. He added that the government hoped that everyone would visit City Park happily, as it is the nation's park. 

Gergely Gulyás expressed hope that the revitalisation of Budapest would not be hampered "by the often petty political disputes that have characterised public life in Budapest since the 2019 mayoral election." The government also has great plans for City Park with construction underway and others with legal, final building permits said the minister, adding that the Liget Budapest Project was the largest effort or park revitalization and museum construction the entire Western world.

The parking garage can hold up to 800 vehicles and features a slew of modern solutions (Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán)

A promenade has been created above the underground parking structure (Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán)

László Baán, Ministerial Commissioner for the Liget Budapest Project, added that the public would be able to use the parking garage from Monday. Due to pandemic-related restrictions, the garage can be used free of charge from 7 in the evening until 7 the next morning. However, local residents will receive long-term discounts.

The commissioner highlighted that the garage was unique in the fact that copies of works stored in the National Picture Archives have been displayed in the structure as decoration and navigational devices. 

The walls are decorated with the works of 12 Hungarian artists (Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán)

The walls are decorated with reproductions of geometric, non-figurative masterpieces from 12 outstanding Hungarian masters, including László Moholy-Nagy, Lajos Kassák, Victor Vasarely, Dóra Maurer and Ilona Keserü. The originals of these works are stored in the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hungarian National Gallery and the Vasarely Muzeum.

László Baán, Ministerial commissioner, standing beside a Vasarely-reproduction.

László Baán emphasised that the underground garage is a major step in freeing City Park from vehicle traffic. Future plans are already in place and will be completed with the modification of the Kós Károly promenade into a truly traffic-free route.

Green areas in City Park are still to increase in the future, said the Ministerial Commissioner. The previous 60% ratio of green areas will increase to 65%, though among other, replanting areas that had been covered in asphalt. László Baán also highlighted that the House of Hungarian Music and the Museum of Ethnography would open next year.

A video about the parking garage can be accessed here. 

Source: MTI

Cover photo: New underground parking garage and promenade in City Park (Photo: Városliget Zrt.)