Today, Tineretului Park is a true green oasis, frequented daily by hundreds of Bucharest residents who come to walk or exercise. However, the place where the park now stands has a surprisingly complex history. Before it became a park, the area was known as the "Valley of Weeping" or "Cocioc," names steeped in mystery and folklore. 

The legendary origins of the area

Legends say that centuries ago, a small village existed here, at the edge of which there was a monastery. One night, the ground reportedly shook violently and cracked, swallowing the entire village and its church. Later, the area was flooded by waters from the Dâmbovița River, forming a vast swamp that became known as "Cocioc."

It is said that on full-moon nights, the water would suddenly clear, revealing the village church spire. Locals claimed that the voices of those once buried under the earth could be heard, which is how the area earned the name "Valley of Weeping." 

The swamp between the Cărămidarii de Jos neighborhood and Șerban Vodă Hill most likely formed due to the frequent floods of the Dâmbovița River. Being a low-lying area, water accumulated there, and reeds grew up to four to five meters tall, turning the landscape into a wild and almost inaccessible place.

From swamp to garbage dump

As the 20th century progressed, the "Cocioc" swamp drained through a small channel back into the Dâmbovița, eventually drying up. The area was abandoned and turned into a garbage dump, a desolate place piled with household waste, animal carcasses, and industrial debris. 

Both the poor residents of the neighborhood and hungry dogs rummaged through the refuse. This situation persisted until the 1930s when local authorities began to consider transforming the space.

In the winter of 1933, the garbage dump was leveled and temporarily turned into a small winter recreation area. Three ski slopes were created: one for beginners, one for intermediate skiers, and one for sledding enthusiasts, accessible near Bellu Cemetery. 

Winters in those days were much harsher than today, with thick snow covering the slopes for several months. The slopes were so popular that they remained open late into the evening with night lighting, becoming a major attraction for Bucharest residents. This initiative offered the first glimpse of the area's future recreational potential.

The mysterious buildings in the park

On the plateau above Tineretului Lake, near the entrance to the Children's Town, stands a now-abandoned mansion. The building, with its two small towers, broken windows, and cracked walls, has the appearance of a haunted house. 

Initially, some believed it was the parish house of the Cărămidarii de Jos church or a library, but it actually belonged to the wealthy Charlea family and was later incorporated into the park. The mansion still carries an aura of mystery and serves as a testament to the complex past of the area.

The first plans for park development

In 1935, the city administration proposed turning the communal and private lands between Calea Șerban Vodă, Calea Văcărești, and Șoseaua Olteniței into a green area, including the Valley of Weeping, Piscul Hill, and Văcărești Hill. 

The idea was to create a "green patch" offering residents access to nature. However, World War II disrupted these plans, and the Valley of Weeping was leased to the Bucharest Communal Factories, continuing to serve as a garbage dump for twenty-five years.

Transforming the park during the communist era

Actual development of Tineretului Park began only in 1965, during the communist regime. Initially called Bucur-Parc, the project was designed by architect Valentin Donose, although it was originally entrusted to Gheorghe Neagu. 

Newspapers of the time praised an ambitious plan, which included a roller coaster, shooting pavilions, a safari-themed bumper car track, dance floors, and two hills—one with tropical vegetation and the other with alpine flora—situated between the loops of the lake. Many of these ideas were never realized.

Construction lasted nine years, during which the former garbage dump was drained, leveled, and landscaped. Terrain differences reached up to sixteen meters, requiring extensive reshaping to accommodate Tineretului Lake and recreational activities. The lake, covering 13 hectares and fed directly by the groundwater table, was reinforced with concrete shores and prepared for boating and pedal boating.

Community involvement in the park's creation

An interesting aspect is that the initial landscaping was carried out with the help of students and pupils, called to participate in "patriotic work."

In just eight months, they helped level the ground, plant greenery, and prepare spaces, laying the foundations of a park that would become one of Bucharest's most iconic green areas.

Later developments

In 1974, the Sala Polivalentă was constructed at the park's edge, then known as the "Palace of Sports and Culture." A few years later, the Children's Town was built, along with the National Children's Palace, formerly the Palace of Pioneers and Falcons of the Homeland, expanding the recreation area and providing facilities for education and leisure.

Over the decades, the park underwent several modernizations and beautifications, but its general layout remained largely unchanged. On the hill near Gheorghe Șincai High School stands the Crematorium "Cenușa," a building with a long and mysterious history, fitting seamlessly into the complex narrative of the area.

Tineretului Park today

Today, Tineretului Park is one of Bucharest's most popular green spaces, offering walking paths, sports facilities, and areas for relaxation. Its rich history—from the Cocioc swamp and the legendary Valley of Weeping to the garbage dump and its transformation into an urban park—gives it a unique identity, blending legend, historical truth, and collective effort. 

Tineretului Park is not just a recreational space but also a living testimony of Bucharest’s evolution over centuries, from marshlands and folklore to a modern, green, and community-friendly urban space.

We also recommend: The story of the famous Cenușa crematorium of Bucharest: general Ion Antonescu was cremated here