Belgrade is drowning in concrete, and the authorities seem blind to it! Citizens gathered at the Terazije Fountain to shout STOP to the expansion of the “Belgrade Waterfront” project, which is spreading like cancer and threatens to devour the city center. Citizen groups, activists, and initiatives raised their voices against the government’s plans to seize and concrete over Terazije Park, one of the last green oases in the heart of the capital.
Architect Momčilo Mrdaković doesn’t mince words: “Concrete, concrete, just concrete!” — that’s the motto of these authorities planning to build thousands of square meters of concrete, which will bring even more cars and traffic jams. “Belgrade will become a black city,” he warns. Art historian Marko Bogdanović adds that this project is spreading like cancer and will reduce green spaces by as much as 30%, maybe even more.
Citizens have sent over 10,000 objections to the plans, which delayed the public hearing, but the fight is far from over. Bogdanović points out that the devastation is not only happening in the center but also in other parts of the city like Vračar and Dedinje, which are protected but still suffer from construction and nature destruction.
Jelena Radović from the “Belgrade Stays” initiative called on citizens to join the student protest at Slavija because the fight for the park, air, and the right to live must not stop. Among the gathered were famous artists like director Srđan Dragojević and musician Zoran Kostić Cane.
This protest is not just a fight for a park but for the soul of Belgrade. Will the authorities listen to the voice of the people or continue to concrete every inch of the city? If you think this is just another ordinary protest, think again. Belgrade is changing, but not for the better. What do you think? Is it time to finally stop this concrete invasion, or will we watch our city turn into a concrete jungle? Drop a comment, share your story, or just spread this chaos with your friends — let the voice of the people be heard!
