Moorhead, home to thousands of Kurds, renames park in honor of friendship city

MOORHEAD — An American and Kurdish flag waved together in the wind as Moorhead dedicated a park to friends more than 6,000 miles away. On Friday, Oct. 16, the city of Moorhead renamed one of its parks Friendship Park in honor of a friendship agreement with the city of Zakho, Kurdistan, in northern Iraq. The park formerly known as Johnson Farms Park is at 1599 Johnson Drive, Moorhead. In 2025, the city of Moorhead and Zakho signed a friendship proclamation that pledged commitments to cultural exchange, educational opportunities and economic development. Moorhead is home to an estimated 3,500 Kurds, around 8% of the population. The new Friendship Park honors the cultural ties between Moorhead and Zakho, and celebrates the many Kurdish families that call Moorhead home, said Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson. Our relationship with Zakho has brought new understanding, new opportunities and new friendships into our community, Carlson said. Guests at Moorhead s