Başakşehir Millet Garden is a 281,242 square meter public green space located in Başakşehir district of Istanbul. It opened to the public on November 17, 2018. The garden is situated near projects such as the Başakşehir Municipality service building, İkitelli City Hospital, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, the Northern Marmara Highway, and the Kanal Istanbul route.

^{Aerial View of Başakşehir Millet Garden (İHA)}

Physical Features and Amenities

Başakşehir Millet Garden features 188,845 m² of green space, a 15,600 m² biological pond, a 30,000 m² themed garden, a 42,000 m² event meadow, and various plant species. The area contains a total of 5,570 trees and 160,000 shrubs. Plant species have been selected to suit the Istanbul climate. The themed gardens feature areas created with plants offering different scents, colors, and attracting butterflies.

The garden includes a 10,000-meter walking path, a 2,750-meter bicycle path, accessible play areas, children's playgrounds, seating areas, pergolas, gazebos, an amphitheater, a pond cafe, a mosque, fountains, restrooms, and a baby care room. The Millet Reading Room, with its 589 m² indoor area, offers a reading room, exhibition space, and cafeteria.

The indoor car park has a capacity of 1,200 vehicles, and the outdoor car park has a capacity of 198 vehicles. The park contains a total of 220 benches, 45 gazebos, 20 picnic tables, 98 trash cans, and 517 lighting poles.

Sports and Recreation Areas

Within Başakşehir Millet Garden, there is a designated area for a sports park. This area includes 1 football field, 2 basketball courts, 1 volleyball court, 1 tennis court, and 8 changing rooms. The garden has 4,520 meters of walking paths and 1,692 meters of bicycle paths.

The sports facilities are open for use by the Başakşehir Municipality Sports Club. They are also available to citizens through a reservation system. Activities are organized for various age groups in disciplines such as football, basketball, volleyball, sports skills, and pilates.

^{FPV Drone Footage of Başakşehir Millet Garden (4k Aerial Shot)}

Sustainable Landscape Design

The area where Başakşehir Millet Garden is located was used as a quarry and landfill site until 2011. This area was later filled and transformed into a recreation area. The paving materials used in the garden (granite slab stone, basalt stone, and wood) were sourced locally. Solar-powered street furniture is used for energy production. These systems support functions such as lighting, telephones, and charging for disabled vehicles.

The biological pond in the garden has a self-cleaning feature with a filtration system. The area's irrigation needs are met with a rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation system. Energy-efficient design principles have been adopted in the buildings, and building forms have been shaped considering natural light and airflow. The Millet Reading Room building features a green roof.

Fruit and lavender gardens are arranged according to sustainable agriculture principles. Recycling bins have been placed as part of waste management, and plant waste has been reused using dry landscaping methods. The municipality has adopted zero waste and energy-efficient practices in the park's maintenance and management processes.