Ramat Gan National Park

Ramat Gan National Park occupies the southern portion of Ramat Gan, a city situated immediately east of Tel Aviv–Yafo on the Plain of Sharon.[1] Despite its name, it is a regular urban park rather than an American-style national park.[9] It is named in honor of Abraham Krinitzi, the city's first mayor, whose initiative was central to its establishment.[10][4]

The Safari, a large open-air zoological park, adjoins the National Park and is sometimes described as part of its wider complex.[10][3] Published area figures vary substantially. Mako reported 800 dunams in 2024, while Calcalist reported 1,100 dunams in 2008.[11][12] A 2005 Ynet article gave 1,900 dunams, whereas reference works give 494 acres, or approximately 200 hectares.[2][13] The sources do not explain the differing measurements.

A May 29, 1950, letter from Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion to municipal leaders records that Ramat Gan Mayor Avraham Krinitzi had proposed establishing a national park near the city on approximately 1,000 dunams of abandoned-property land.[5] Ben-Gurion described public gardens as "an essential need" for residents of densely built cities and appointed a committee to examine suitable sites and access.[5] In August 1950, the committee recommended three parks, including an 800-dunam site south of Ramat Gan and east of Tel Aviv and Giv'atayim.[5] The report reproducing these documents does not explicitly identify that proposed site as the present-day Ramat Gan National Park.

Krinitzi saw potential in land associated with the abandoned Arab villages of Salama and al-Hayriyya, envisioning it as the site of both immigrant housing and a substantial public park.[4] The municipality organized a community fundraising drive for the garden, and residents participated directly in planting its trees.[4] Krinitzi argued publicly that gardens were "not a luxury" but a necessity for health and society — an outlook that shaped the project from its inception.[4]

The park was planned in the early 1950s by Abraham Kabashni, the Ramat Gan municipality's chief gardener.[4] His design brought together evergreen woodland, broad lawns, low flowerbeds, a rose garden and pool, winding paths, an amphitheater, and a European-style café.[4] A 2018 history described it as the largest and best-maintained park in Israel during the 1950s and 1960s.[4]

The artificial lake was excavated in 1958. Plans called for it to receive water from the Kofar stream, which crosses Ramat Gan from east to west and flows into the Ayalon stream.[4] A boat service opened on the lake that year, and Krinitzi piloted the first vessel onto the water.[14] In 1963, engineer Matityahu Fenster designed the "House on the Lake," a ship-like, three-story structure that served at different times as a boat-rental station, café, restaurant, and event hall.[4] It became an urban landmark before falling into disuse. A pedestrian bridge was eventually built to connect it to the shore; previously, it had been accessible only by boat.[4]

In the early 1970s, part of the park's land was transferred for the establishment of the Safari and Winter Stadium.[4] An archive caption from 1986 depicts visitors "Enjoying the artificial lake at the Ramat Gan Park," documenting its recreational use by that year.[15] In 1990, the municipality began a further renewal of the lake, although the archive record does not describe the work's scope or outcome.[16] The park underwent a major upgrade in 2005.[17]

Boating later ceased and reopened in 2023 after a twenty-year hiatus. Nearly fifty electric boats, pedal boats, and bumper boats returned as part of wider upgrades that included sports and fitness facilities, bike paths, a skate park, a recreational beach area, and a fountain.[14]

The park contains a diverse mix of green spaces and visitor facilities. Tropical tree species, shaded lawns, a rose garden, and an artificial lake form prominent elements of its landscape.[2][17] Walking and cycling paths cross the grounds, while designated areas accommodate barbecues, a dog garden, a small train, and children's playground equipment.[6][17] A waterfall, horse farm, and amphitheater have also been listed among its features.[11]

At the center of the park's green area stands the Man and the Living World Museum, a natural-history institution whose exhibits draw on zoological and paleontological collections and interactive displays. Its educational center presents the complexity of life on earth to school groups and general visitors.[7]

The park also contains a sculpture garden. In 2016, artist Menashe Kadishman's sculpture "Birth" was installed there as part of a loan of fourteen Kadishman works from the artist's descendants, six of which were placed in the park that summer.[8] The sculpture attracted public attention when some visitors claimed that touching or lying on it could aid conception; Deputy Mayor Adva Pollak publicly rejected the claim and asked visitors not to lie on the artwork.[8]

The Safari — a large outdoor zoological park — adjoins the National Park and is described by some sources as part of its wider complex, though it operates as a distinct institution.[10][3]

The park has been described as the first large urban park established in Israel after the founding of the state and as Israel's second-largest urban park after Yarkon Park.[6][3] Annual attendance has been estimated at approximately half a million people.[3] Visitors use the grounds for walks, cycling, nighttime runs, recreation at the lake, and rest in the shade, making the park an important amenity for Ramat Gan and the surrounding metropolitan area.[6][13]

A 2015 classic-car event illustrates the range of public uses the park accommodates. The gathering displayed 270 vehicles and drew thousands of attendees while celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the "5 Club," whose name refers to its members' vintage cars having five-digit license plate numbers.[9]

In January 2026, Globes reported an agreement between the Israeli government and the Ramat Gan municipality to relocate the Safari to Ariel Sharon Park and expand the National Park by several hundred dunams. The plan also called for opening green areas previously closed to the public and planting thousands of trees.[18]

A March 2026 report described an approved summary of principles under which one-third of the approximately 1,000 dunams expected to be vacated by the Safari would be added to the National Park.[19] It also stated that a planning team was to be formed, a detailed agreement was to follow, and initial plans were to be submitted later. No firm implementation date had yet been established.[19]

Published figures for the park's total area differ materially across sources. Calcalist reported 1,100 dunams in 2008, including 850 dunams of green space, while Mako reported 800 dunams in 2024.[11][12] A Ynet article published in 2005 gave 1,900 dunams.[13] The Encyclopaedia Judaica and Jewish Virtual Library give 494 acres, or approximately 200 hectares.[2][20] None of these sources explains whether the variation reflects different boundary definitions, the inclusion or exclusion of the Safari and adjacent facilities, or changes to the park's extent over time.