BAKAP Rekreasyon Alanı

About BAKAP Rekreasyon Alanı

BAKAP, short for Başkent Ankara Kalkınma Projesi (Capital Ankara Development Project), is an agricultural campus and recreation area run by ANFA, the parks and recreation directorate of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality. It opened in 2023 as the municipality's gift to the capital for the 100th anniversary of the Republic, and ANFA describes it as Türkiye's largest agricultural campus and recreation area. The site covers about 3.5 million square metres of former idle land in Karaoğlan Mahallesi, Gölbaşı. According to ANFA, it was barren and unused until 2020; it has since been brought back into production while also being opened up for leisure. For visitors, ANFA lists 39 kilometres of walking paths, 19 kilometres of cycle paths, 45,000 square metres of picnic area, a 55,000-square-metre lavender garden and an aromatic plants garden, three ecological ponds, 160,000 square metres of lawn, children's play areas, sports areas, cafeterias run by the municipality and a caravan park. Around 17,500 fruit trees and some 25,000 ornamental trees have been planted. BAKAP is also a working farm. According to ANFA, its greenhouses, production gardens and fields have for about three years produced fodder crops, wheat, barley, rye, oats, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and various fruits. Practical notes: the area lies on the southern side of Ankara in Gölbaşı district, beside the D750 road, where a bus stop carries the BAKAP name. ANFA does not publish opening hours on its page, so check the directorate's channels before visiting.