The official opening of Merve Mercan Park, which was completed at Selçuk University (SU) Alaeddin Keykubat Campus with the support of Selçuklu Municipality, was held.

The park, which was built near the SU Rectorate building and the SU Campus Mosque and named after Merve Mercan, an intern student of the SU Faculty of Medicine who lost her life due to Covid-19, has an area of 32 thousand square meters and includes wireless, usb charging units and many services for the use of young people. In the park; 600 square meters of ornamental pool, 3 thousand 600 square meters of walking path, 1 thousand 200 square meters of jogging path, 27 thousand square meters of grass area, 20 benches, 12 pergolas, 3 wooden bridges, 10 outdoor sports equipment, 3 ornamental pools.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mayor of Selçuklu Municipality Ahmet Pekyatırmacı said, "When the Rectorate's project to build a park in the name of Merve Mercan in the campus area of Selçuk University came to the agenda, we, as Selçuklu Municipality, did not hesitate to undertake the construction work. As a result of the joint work done, we have brought a very valuable work to our university and our young brothers and sisters. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the construction of the park."

"WE KEEP THEM ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS"

Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy said that they see Merve Mercan Park as a symbol of the staff and students lost due to Covid-19. Thanking Mercan's family for accepting the offer to name the park after Merve Mercan, Prof. Dr. Aksoy said, "We keep them alive in our hearts. We thought of this park as a symbol of this. We are a family and as Selçuk University, we had the opportunity to realize the construction of this park with the support of Selçuklu Municipality. Of course, we are very grateful and thankful to our esteemed healthcare professionals who work day and night 'for a breath of health' and struggle for our peaceful and healthy life process. Their rights cannot be paid. I would like to thank all our stakeholders, especially Selçuklu Municipality, who supported the construction of the park."

Merve Mercan's father Hulusi Mercan said, "I would like to thank you very much for honoring us by creating such a work. Our daughter left the world as a health worker at a young age. Our daughter, whose mother was also a health worker, was a very honored student. I would like to thank Selçuk University and Selçuklu Municipality for their gesture."

 "WE ARE EXPERIENCING ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF UNITY AND SOLIDARITY"

AK Party Konya Provincial President Hasan Angı said, "Merve Mercan Park is one of the best examples of what our country can achieve in unity and solidarity. Our university is a very large campus today with its education life that started 47 years ago. We observe the academic studies and great achievements of our university in the country and in the world together."

Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality Uğur İbrahim Altay said, "I congratulate our Mayor of Selçuklu Municipality and his team who have contributed a great deal to the emergence of Merve Mercan Park. I would like to thank our Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy and his professors who have given a new direction to our University since the day he took office and have been instrumental in increasing its quality in every field, especially the quality of education."

"KEEPING MERVE MERCAN ALIVE WILL GIVE US ALL GREAT HONOR"

AK Party Deputy Chairperson and Konya Deputy Leyla Şahin Usta said, "It is you, precious young people, who will know the value of these places. I am sure that it will be a great honor for all of us to tell your new friends who Merve Mercan is, to know what kind of life story she had and to keep it alive while sitting here, talking and chatting." Governor of Konya Vahdettin Özkan said, "We are witnessing together the improvement of physical infrastructure, increasing the quality of education and keeping cultural values alive in solidarity in our city. Our Selçuklu Municipality and Selçuk University have served our city in a difficult period, and this kindness they have shown for our brother, whom we sent off to eternity, is important and meaningful. May our park be auspicious; I hope it will be a good recreation area for all our young people and academicians."

AK Party Konya MP Hacı Ahmet Özdemir, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Şakir Uslu, Merve Mercan's mother Bediha Mercan, father Hulusi Mercan, siblings Şüheda and Yahya Mercan, faculty members and students attended the opening ceremony.

The park was opened with prayers after the protocol speeches.

Mercan, who was treated in intensive care at SU Faculty of Medicine Hospital for about 40 days due to Covid-19, died on September 10, 2020.