The Aznavour Foundation is taking over the implementation of the Friendship Park restoration and development project in Gyumri, Armenia.

The Friendship Park restoration project was launched in 2018 at the initiative of philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan and was carried out by his foundation, IDeA. Vardanyan was also the project's largest donor, investing $5.4 million. The project aimed to create a public space of long-term social and urban significance for Gyumri—one capable of becoming an integral part of city life.

From the very beginning, the Aznavour Foundation was a key partner of the project and supported the initiative. Friendship Park was conceived as a space that bridges the memory of the past with a vision for the future. Its name and concept symbolize friendship and solidarity, paying tribute to the international support Armenia received from many nations and people following the 1988 Spitak earthquake.

Today, the park is rightfully considered one of Gyumri’s most beloved public spaces, offering modern recreational areas and sports infrastructure that meet international standards. It features children's playgrounds, sports and leisure zones, Gyumri’s first skate park, and the city’s first ice rink which remains a popular winter destination for residents and visitors alike. More than 650 trees have been planted within the park grounds.

The park project has had a significant social impact, creating new jobs and fostering entrepreneurship within the park area. The project created successful collaborations among public, private, and international partners, including the World Bank, private philanthropists, and the residents of Gyumri. It stands as a prime example of public-private cooperation.

"Gyumri holds a special place in the work of the Aznavour Foundation. Charles Aznavour’s name is inextricably linked to humanitarian initiatives aimed at rebuilding the city after the earthquake, and it is a great honor for us to continue developing this important project. We deeply appreciate the extensive work carried out at the initiative of Ruben Vardanyan and through the efforts of the IDeA Foundation. Now, the Aznavour Foundation will continue developing the Friendship Park with the same sense of responsibility and commitment to the same values, preserving its original vision and ensuring it remains a modern, inclusive, and vibrant public space for Gyumri’s residents and visitors alike.

We will carry this work forward with the support and assistance of a great friend of our Foundation and member of the Board of Trustees, Ruben Harutyunyan. We are confident that together we will successfully realize all our planned objectives, which we will share soon," said Kristina Aznavour, CEO of the Aznavour Foundation.

"For us, the most important thing today is seeing the park become an increasingly significant part of life in the city and for its residents. When children and their grandparents come here not only to spend time, but to plant a tree together—and then make sure to return to care for it—that is perhaps the most meaningful outcome of our work. This is exactly what Ruben always wanted: for this project to be a shared endeavor, as a sense of ownership makes it meaningful to every resident and fosters a special bond with the city. His vision helped unite so many friends and partners around a common goal. We are pleased that the Aznavour Foundation will continue the restoration and development of the park, upholding the original concept upon which the project was founded," said Veronika Zonabend, co-founder of the IDeA Foundation.

In the near future, the Aznavour Foundation will present further plans and initiatives for the development of Friendship Park, continuing to shape it into a key hub for social, cultural, and family leisure in Gyumri.