Swing bench

The original location of the swing bench is a park in the Qahira neighborhood in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The area used to be an abandoned amusement park, but was transformed into a public park by means of funding from the international military forces in Baghdad. When it opened in 2008, the Iraqi flag was hoisted by Iraqi officials along with Colonel John Hort of the 4th Infantry Division 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and white pigeons were released. Colonel Hort said: “This is something we can do to help the citizens”. In the park, a small pond was built with a generator-run fountain, complete with a flock of geese as well as benches, solar lights, several swings, slides and seesaws. The park was intended to be self-sufficient, with seven small kiosks to be rented to vendors. The rent should provide an income stream to buy fuel for the generator and pay for a gardener and a security staff, among other expenses — a small intent to normalize life in Iraq, in contrast to years of war, civil unrest and violent conflict.