Erdogan: People's Garden to replace Atatürk Airport

Turkey's government will build a large garden called the People’s Garden in the area of the current Atatürk Airport, upon completion of the new airport north of Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"There will be a ‘people’s garden’ in the center of the city by transforming the existing airport into a big garden. We will also have gardens, just like England, for example, has," Erdoğan said in an interview on state broadcaster TRT.

With the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) set to launch its election manifesto on May 24, the president said it is planning to build gardens, called "people gardens," in several cities across Turkey.

"For example, a garden will be built on the site of the old Konya stadium and the old stadium in Eskişehir," he said, adding that the biggest of these gardens will be built in Istanbul.

Erdoğan said construction of the garden will begin after the partial opening of the new international airport in Istanbul, due to take place on Oct. 29.

"Another interesting place in Istanbul is a space in Maslak. We want to transform that area into another people’s garden,” Hurriyet Daily cited the president as saying.