Grorudparken

Grorudparken is a public park in the Grorud district of Oslo, in the Groruddalen valley. It covers roughly 119 decares, a little under 12 hectares, and opened in 2013. It is one of four neighbourhood parks built in this part of the Norwegian capital. Rather than a traditional park of formal paths and flower beds, it blends recreation, sport and flood protection in one space.

Where is Grorudparken?

The park stretches along the Alna river, from the Grorud Senter shopping centre to the Hølaløkka area. Two major roads, Trondheimsveien and Kalbakkveien, cross it. That makes it easy to spot when travelling through the district, and for locals it sits right on the daily route to shops, schools and bus stops.

What makes it special?

The central idea of the design was to reopen the Alna river. Its course here had previously been hidden or altered, and the site needed repair. The landscape architects at LINK Arkitektur (LINK Landskap) designed the park on commission from Oslo's water and sewage authority, so water is not just decoration but a core part of the solution.

Soil remediation is another theme. The ground was polluted, and willow trees were used, among other methods, to help clean it. The park was also planned with strong attention to flood protection, so the river can take in more water during periods of heavy rain.

What can you do here?

The park was conceived for a wide range of residents. It is described as a place for athletics, play, youth programmes and cultural events. In practice that means a walk beside the water, a run, time with children or a local event.

Recognition

In 2014 Grorudparken was nominated for Oslo's architecture prize. The project is also featured on landscape architecture websites as an example of combining water management, regeneration of a site and public space.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Grorudparken? In the Grorud district of Oslo, along the Alna river between Grorud Senter and Hølaløkka.

When did the park open? In 2013.

How big is it? About 119 decares, or roughly 12 hectares.

Who designed it? LINK Arkitektur (LINK Landskap), commissioned by Oslo's water and sewage authority.

Is there an entrance fee? It is a public city park. One listing says it is open around the clock, but check the City of Oslo website for current information before you go.

Is it worth visiting for landscape architecture fans? Yes. The reopened river, soil clean-up and flood-protection features make it an interesting example of modern urban green space design.