The Armenian Park is a quiet green space in the center of Armenian Street Penang Heritage-Enclave.
Acheen Street and Armenian Street heritage enclave was one of the earliest Malay settlements in George Town.
Arab, Indian, and Malay Archipelago traders traded spices here in the early years.
It was also the center of Islamic studies.
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History of The Spice Trail
In the 1970s, Acheen Street and Armenian Street’s spice trail was a popular haunt for old or cheap second-hand items.
There is a vacant lot where the space evening flea market is traded with gusto.
Today the site is turned into a pretty pocket park. There is a basketball court adjacent to it.
After the repeal of the Rent Control Act, derelict pre-war houses were put on the market and sold.
The new owners have refurbished these into homestays and popular restaurants and cafes.
Walking the streets at night is no longer dodgy, and the area is now brightly lit and pedestrian-friendly.
Over the weekends, the entire enclave of connecting streets is walkable is chockful of happy tourists.
An interesting point is approaching the Acheen Street mosque, where the road forks.
When I turn left turn, I head to Beach Street.
I decided to take a right, leading to a quiet respite far from the maddening crowds, and head toward Carnarvon Street, Penang.
Armenian Park Background
The Armenian Park and the adjoining back lanes project focused on one of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Sites (GTWHS).
The project aimed to reinforce a densely built-up residential enclave by establishing a community green space – a park!
The park at the corner of Lebuh Acheh and Lebuh Armenian is one of the few open spaces in George Town’s denser parts.
The open space measures approximately 2,600 sqm and resulted from a fire that destroyed several buildings in the late 19th century.
Over time, the space became an informal leisure space for neighborhood residents.
In the 1990s, the area was formally reorganized into a garden and renamed Armenian Park.
Up to the 2000s, the area was used as a thriving evening flea market.
Stalls were splayed haphazardly throughout the space, and greenery became sparse.
The garden disappeared under a layer of compacted earth, and its benches and light fixtures fell into disrepair.
Creating a community garden is a welcome space in a neighborhood with limited public space.
Armenian Park Location
Armenian Park Penang is a minimalistic community park located at Acheen/ Armenian Street.
As part of the local initiative for green network planning in urban areas, a disused vacant lot is transformed from an active flea market.
The works began in 2015 and included resurfacing the ground with ‘porous concrete.’
The project included upgrading an adjacent back lane into a herb garden for the public to view.
Opening up the back lane provides safe alternative access for the public and residents.
Armenian Park provides a safe, clean, and healthy environment for the community to interact.
This 1,600sq m park green lung is a space for the community to enjoy.
The overall works include restructuring utilities, landscaping, pedestrian walkways, and lighting fixtures.
Participation from the local community keeps the park clean and prevents vandalism.
Directly across the Armenian Park Penang is an Indian Restaurant without a signboard.
You can try banana leaf rice and Crab Curry.
You can get your local hawker food in nearby Kopitiam at Carnarvon Street.
Armenian Park Improvement Project
YAB Chief Minister of Penang launched the Armenian Park Improvement Project in October 2015 as one of several catalytic projects in the neighborhood.
Upgrades to the area included
- soft landscaping
- lighting
- benches
The old basketball court was retained and served as a multipurpose event space. There are other plans to refurbish the Youth Centre shortly.
Armenian Park is one of the few green spaces in the heart of the George Town World Heritage Site.
The park’s presence, which acts as a green lung and social space, has improved the neighborhood.
In 2012, Think City supported a landscape plan for the existing green space and oversaw the ‘greening’ of nearby Carnarvon Street (Lebuh Carnarvon).
Some facts about Armenian Park Penang
Softscape Area: 1600 sqm
Adjacent Area: 2000 sqm
Armenian Park Neighbourhood is a mere 5-minute walk
- 2622 Residents
- 660 Households
- 366 Children
- 796 Businesses
- 60 Community associations
Large shady trees at Armenian Park in the afternoon. Photo: Doris Lim
Benches to rest at Armenian Park in the afternoon. Photo: Doris Lim
Armenian Park in the afternoon. Photo: Doris Lim
The Basketball Court is adjacent to the Armenian Park Penang.
Source: ThinkCity
10300 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
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