Dikmen Vadisi

Dikmen Valley is a recreation area of roughly 70 hectares stretching between the Dikmen and Ayrancı neighbourhoods of Çankaya, turned from a squatter district into a valley park by an urban regeneration project that began in 1989. The first stage was completed in the mid 1990s, the second and third in 2002 and 2009, and the final stage is ongoing. The old stream bed was not buried but placed at the centre of the landscape: ponds, waterfalls and a 3 kilometre walking trail follow the water. Two high bridges cross the valley, and there are a viewing terrace, a climbing wall, sports areas and two mosques. Wikipedia counts more than 120,000 trees and close to fifty plant species. Entry is free and the park is lit at night.