The Canal/Park at St.108

The park which now runs between Sisowath Quay and the Railway Station was once a canal. Called the Canal de Vernéville, it was built around 1894 to drain the nearby area. It was filled in in the 1920s and became a park. The top picture is an aerial view of the canal and the "Dollar Bridge"near the quay, from the early part of the 20th century. You can see that the city didn't extend too far away from the river at that time. The second picture is a close up of the "Dollar Bridge". The third picture shows the uninterrupted view of the park from the railway station to the river in the 1940s, and the color picture shows a view from Norodom up to the railway station in 1960.
In recent times the park had become rather worn out and dusty looking in many places. Down near the river was a quite decrepit, but popular outdoor stage. This area was developed and became the night market. For a time around 2006, the whole park was refurbished, with new flower beds, paving and lighting. Unfortunately this didn't last, as more recent work on the new center city drainage scheme and the Canadia Bank Tower has turned much of the park into a construction site. When all the work is finished it should look good again.