Central Park (Parcul Central) is a landscaped public park in the center of Piatra Neamț, between Princely Court Square and Stephen the Great Square. Also known as Youth Park (Parcul Tineretului) and Stephen the Great Park (Parcul Ștefan cel Mare), it has tree-lined paths, lawns, benches, a musical fountain, and a wooden band pavilion. The bronze Statue of Stephen the Great stands in the middle of the park, while the Youth Theater overlooks its western side.
The park was developed during the 1960s on the site of the former Roxy Theater, an early performance venue established in 1871. The theater hosted visiting companies and theatrical performances during the late 19th century, but the building was demolished in the early 1960s as the surrounding city center was redeveloped. Its site was subsequently incorporated into the new public park, which developed into a recreational space beside the Youth Theater and the historic princely court. The Statue of Stephen the Great, created by sculptor Oscar Han, was unveiled here in 1974.
One of the park’s main features is its musical fountain, installed in 2009 to replace an older ornamental fountain. Built into a broad paved surface, it uses computer-controlled jets of water, colored lighting, and music to create coordinated displays. The surrounding area includes steps that can serve as seating during performances and public gatherings. The park also contains a wooden band pavilion, restored and reopened in 2024 for small concerts and other cultural activities.
The park is used for walking, sitting, and informal recreation, while its central location makes it a regular setting for public celebrations and seasonal events. Christmas festivities, craft fairs, and cultural performances are held in the park and adjoining public spaces, sometimes extending into Stephen the Great Square. Along the upper edge, surviving sections of the 17th-century enclosure wall of the Princely Church of Saint John separate the park from the historic Princely Court Square above.
