The proclamation was made by Grand Vizier Mustafa Reşid Pasha, a leading statesman, diplomat, and reformer in the Empire.

The park underwent a major renovation in recent years; the removal of the zoo, fun fair and picnic grounds effecting an increase in open space.

With concrete structures removed, the park regained the natural landscape of the 1950s, revealing trees dating from the 1800s.

The Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam is located in the former stables of Topkapı Palace, on the western edge of the park.

[2] The museum features 140 replicas of inventions of the 8th to 16th centuries, from astronomy, geography, chemistry, surveying, optics, medicine, architecture, physics and warfare.