Yogurtçu Park

Yoğurtçu Park is a park in the Moda neighborhood in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul. It is within the borders of Osmanağa Neighborhood and extends from the end of Moda Beach, parallel to Kurbağalıdere and Yoğurtçu Park Avenue, until the Kurbağalıdere Bridge.

History

Yoğurtçu Park takes its name from the Yoğurtçu Fountain located in the park, which is said to have been built by yogurt makers in the early 1800s. The area where Yoğurtçu Park is located attracted attention as one of the promenade areas of Kadıköy in the 18th century and during the Tulip Period.^[1]Süreyya İlmen had a project for the area, which was in a swampy state after World War II, that aimed to make it suitable for public use with beach landscaping, tree planting and bridge construction. In order to realize the project, Süreyya İlmen first donated money himself and started to raise money through postcard sales and the Red Crescent Tent. After the issue was reported in the press, the Istanbul Municipality took over the project and started the work in 1923, using the donations collected up to that point as resources. A 400-meter concrete dock is built along the shore of Kurbağalıdere and 8000^{m3 of} soil is filled in. The works were completed within two years and the park was opened in 1925. ^[2]

In-park structures and facilities

The most important structure in Yoğurtçu Park is the historical Yoğurtçu Fountain, which gives the park its name. The fountain, which was previously located in a different location, was restored by Kadıköy Municipality in 1994 and moved into the park. At two different points of the park, there is a statue of the Mermaid and a statue of Yunus Emre. The park also has a walking track, basketball court, tennis court, children’s playground, physical exercise area and a tea garden.