Swan Park

Kuğulu Park is a small-scale urban park located in the Kavaklıdere neighborhood of Ankara’s Çankaya district, notable for its central urban setting. Situated along Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi, the park is surrounded by major arteries such as Atatürk Bulvarı and Polonya Caddesi. Named after the swans it houses, the park has become one of Ankara’s iconic landmarks.

^{Kuğulu Park (}Türkiye Culture Portal⁾

The area now occupied by Kuğulu Park was not originally developed as a park. This valley-like landscape, characterized by its natural stream, influenced the formation of the Kavaklıdere neighborhood, which derives its name from this feature. The remaining pond and its surroundings were transformed into a park by the Ankara Municipality in 1958.

During its early years, the park attracted little public attention. However, in the 1970s, under the leadership of Mayor Vedat Dalokay, it was redesigned and transformed into a recreational space that drew significantly more visitors. The defining feature of this period was a group of white swans gifted by the Vienna City Council. Over time, these swans became symbolic of the park, which gradually came to be known as Kuğulu Park, named after them.

According to one account, three of the swans were later relocated to Seğmenler Parkı but perished after colliding with tall buildings while attempting to fly back to Kuğulu Park. Over the years, due to its natural character, central urban location, and the symbolic value of its swans, Kuğulu Park has become one of Ankara’s most well-known and frequently visited public green spaces.

Kuğulu Park covers an area of approximately 1.5 hectares and is a small-scale urban park. At its center lies a pond that provides a habitat for various waterfowl, including swans, ducks, and geese. In recent years, black swans (Cygnus atratus) have also been introduced to the park, sent from Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.

The park’s vegetation exhibits diversity in both tree and shrub species. Dominant tree types include poplar, plane, lilac, catalpa, and hawthorn. These trees provide shaded areas for visitors, while shrub groups and seasonal flowers contribute color and textural variety to the landscape.

The park is home to approximately 24 different bird species, and an information panel detailing this biodiversity is located at the park entrance. This underscores that Kuğulu Park serves not only as an aesthetic space but also as a functional environment for nature observation and environmental awareness.

The park’s walking paths, open grassy areas, children’s play zone, and small café reflect an integrated design that combines landscape elements with social uses. Together with its vegetation, these features enable the park to cater to diverse visitor profiles throughout the year.

^{Kuğulu Park (}Türkiye Culture Portal⁾

Kuğulu Park holds the official status of a sit area registered by the Ankara Council for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage. This designation reflects recognition of the park’s historical and natural significance and has led to various administrative and technical interventions aimed at preserving its landscape structure and ecological integrity.

Due to increasing urban pressure and high visitor usage, maintenance and renovation works have been carried out in the park at various times. In this context, infrastructure elements, pedestrian pathways, vegetation, and conditions supporting wildlife—particularly bird habitats—have been reviewed and improved, with special attention given to protecting the swans’ living environment.

The And House and its garden, located at the park’s boundary and also included within the protected zone, are preserved by the Monuments Board. Thus, Kuğulu Park and its surroundings are regarded not merely as a natural recreational area but as a culturally significant environment worthy of preservation within Ankara’s urban memory.