Victory Park (Latvian: Uzvaras parks) is a park in Riga, located on the left bank of the Daugava, in the district of Āgenskalns. The modern area of the park is 36.7 hectares.
In 1923, the park was renamed Victory Park in honor of the Latvian victory in 1919 over the West Russian Volunteer Army under the command of Colonel Pavel Bermondt-Avalov during the Latvian War of Independence. In 1930, a reconstruction of the park was carried out, aimed at creating a new socially significant leisure center for the population of the Latvian capital. In 1938, the 9th Latvian Song Festival was held in a temporary grandstand in the park.
A grand renovation plan, proposed in 1938–1939 during a contest organized during the dictatorship of Kārlis Ulmanis by architects Frīdrihs Skujiņš [lv] and Georgs Dauge [lv], envisioned a wide 'Alley of Victory' and a torchlight-crowned, 60-meter-tall 'Victory Tower'; a mass event and parade ground with stands and a permanent grandstand for the Song Festival; a velodrome; sports hall with a capacity of 10,000; a stadium and a new harbour in Āgenskalns Bay [lv]. Despite receiving around 3 million Ls in donations, the works did not commence due to the start of World War II.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the monument was removed on 22–25 August.[3][4][5] After the first stage of redevelopment, the park was reopened for the public on Lāčplēsis Day in 2023.[6] Following a public resident survey, the second stage of redevelopment began with the construction of an active recreation zone.[7]
