At the end of November, the Gustav Mahler Park will open in Jihlava

Jihlava - The new Gustav Mahler park will probably open to the public in Jihlava at the end of November. In the nearly completed park, stone objects symbolizing Mahler's music have already been installed, soil has been brought in, and in the coming days, trees, bushes, and other greenery will be planted. The water features will not be functional until spring next year, when the composer's statue will also be placed in the park. This was stated today by the city hall spokesman Radek Tulis.
The costs for constructing the park will amount to approximately 41 million crowns, of which six million are for the artworks. Most of the expenses will be covered by a European grant.
The large stone objects symbolizing birds and fish, according to the artist's statement sculptor Jan Koblas, demonstrate that nature was a major source of inspiration for Mahler. Three nearly twenty-ton bird sculptures and three fish sculptures were created based on Koblas's design by Jaroslav Řehna from Kamenná in the Žďár region. He used four types of granite - three are from nearby Mrákotín, and the red-colored material comes from Africa. The seventh sculpture and the central element of the park will be a three-meter bronze statue of the composer.
The new Jihlava park is being created according to the project by architects Martin Laštovička and Vít Doležal on the site of a former Jewish synagogue, which Mahler attended during his time living in Jihlava. In 1939, the Nazis burned down the synagogue, and its remnants will be part of the park.
The Mahler park is officially set to open on July 7, 2010, on the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth.