and busts. Lack of money led the city to organise a public subscription, after which management of the park's maintenance was entrusted to the good care of the thirty most generous donors. The results greatly exceeded expectations and the victorious patrons elected seven representatives to form the park's management committee. In 1830, during the Belgian Revolution, which led to the separation of the Southern Netherlands, it served as a refuge for the army of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since the 19th century, the park has been surrounded by a double row of lime trees, which emphasise the perspectives on either side. The establishment of the Academy Palace and the Royal Palace modified its western flank in the 1820s. The monumental railings surrounding the park were installed in 1849, using public funding and based on the designs by the architect Tilman-François Suys. The southern entrance to the central path was designed by the architect Joseph Poelaert in 1857 and executed in 1858, before being moved further north in 1904–1908. In the 20th century, a large number of buildings surrounding the park were demolished and rebuilt, sometimes without respecting their original appearance and swapping the painted coating for a white stone facing. The first sports activities were organised in the park in 1920. In the 1930s, it was fitted with Art Deco lampposts and a bunker was built underneath it, connected by tunnels to the House of Parliament. In the 1960s, an entrance was built in the north-western corner to access the underground Parc/Park metro station. Classified as a protected site in 1972, the park now belongs to the Brussels Region, which manages and maintains it. It was most recently renovated between 2000 and 2002. Buildings and monuments Brussels Park is home to several public buildings and monuments: Royal Park Theatre The Royal Park Theatre, a theatre built in 1782, is located at the park's northern end. It originally served both as a banquet hall and a literary cabinet, where newspapers and novels were made available to the public for a penny. To the chagrin of the bishopric of Mechelen children and student actors gave various performances there: pantomimes, ballets, proverbs, burlesque comedies, as well as small operas. The institution changed vocation around 1890, moving from variety and operettas to classical theatre. In December 1998, the stage was the prey of a fire, which was quickly brought under control. This