The park on Baghramian Street is rarely ever referred to by its name; Lovers’ Park. To date many in Yerevan know it as Pushkin Park, popularly called Pushkinski, in Russian. The park was named Pushkin Park in 1949 by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the birth of the renowned Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin. Later in 1970 the park, as well as the avenue it stands on (currently Marshal Baghramian Avenue), were named Barekamutyuna (Comradeship) as a tribute to the friendship of all Soviet Union member nations.

In 1995, following the independence of the Republic of Armenia, by the decision of the presidency of Yerevan City Council’s civil representatives, the park was re-named “Lovers’ Park.” It should be noted that the street adjacent, Demirjian St. had previously been called “Lovers’ Street”. The choice of name was based on the fact that during the second half of the last century, the park had been a favorite rendezvous for many couples.

The park is situated in the north of what was once the district of Kozern. During the 18^th century it was on the outskirts of Yerevan and was well known for its medieval cemetery and its chapel. Maps of this period refer to the vicinity of the present park as the gardens of Kozern. These confirm that the trees of the park date back to the 18^th century.

Later on, during the years of the First Republic of Armenia, as a result of the reconstruction of Yerevan according to Alexander Tamanyan’s plan, this area came to be regarded as a suburb of the capital.

During the post World War II period, as a result of the construction of Barekamutyun (present-day Marshal Baghramian) Avenue, the city of Yerevan substantially developed in this direction. The avenue became home to the buildings of The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic’s Communist Party’s Central Committee (now the National Assembly; architect M. Grigorian), the Supreme Council of Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (now the Presidential Residence; architect M. Grigorian), the Academy of Sciences of Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (now the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia; architect S. Safarian), the Assembly building (now the American University of Armenia; architect M. Grigorian), and others.

In 1981 as a result of the dynamic development of Yerevan, the Marshal Baghramian metro station was constructed in the grounds of the park (architects S. Knteghtsian and A. Zurabian). Marshal Baghramian metro station is considered to be one of the best examples of modern architecture in Yerevan. The same architects also planned to build an open air children’s cinema in the park at a later stage.

During the years of the economic blockade of Armenia and the Artsakh conflict, many of the trees in the capital were cut by residents in order to heat their homes, to the severe detriment of many of the green zones. Fortunately this park’s proximity to government buildings meant that its trees, (many of them over 150 years old), were miraculously saved from that fate.

By the late 90’s, as a result of the construction boom in the capital following growth in the Armenian economy, many of the green areas of central Yerevan were exploited. Many public service sector buildings were constructed on lands that had previously been parks and copses. Nowadays the ecological condition of the capital is one of the most serious challenges facing the local authorities.

Today, the park is of great significance, independent of the fact that it is adjacent to two of the Republic’s most important state structures; the National Assembly and the Presidential Residence. In 2005 the park was in an appalling condition when, at the initiative of benefactor Albert Boghossian, the Boghossian Foundation assumed the renovation of the park. The project intends to raise the management and utilization of parks and leisure areas to a new level and to instill new attitudes towards the organization of public leisure and the care of parks and recreation areas in Armenia.