On Saturday, the University of Mons (Umons) officially opened the renovated Hibakusha Park on the Plaine de Nimy campus, dedicated to survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and to fostering discussions on nuclear disarmament and peace.
Originally established in 1989 by Professor Pierre Piérart, the park serves as a memorial to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies. Recently, students from the UMons Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning redesigned the space. The renovation project considered seventeen proposals before finalising the current design.
University officials describe Hibakusha Park as a place for “intergenerational transmission, civic awareness, and reflection.” They highlight its timely renovation, with nuclear threats still a global concern, ahead of the 80th anniversaries of the bombings on 6 August 1945 and 9 August 1945.
The park’s renovation cost around €130,000, with the City of Mons contributing €30,000.
