A lane for newlyweds, a new square, and much more. Tolochin is preparing to host the regional "Dazhynki-2015" festival.

The closer you get to the center of Tolochin, the louder the noise of hammers, welding machines, and other construction equipment becomes. The city is preparing to host the regional “Dazhynki-2015”. About 90 facilities will acquire a new look, a significant part of which are of social significance. Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee Inna Golubkova told us about the most important and long-awaited ones for the residents of Tolochin.

The central square is the face of any city. Builders started with it first. The main idea of the designers is to open up the view of the district executive committee building and at the same time provide a wide space for mass events. Close attention is also paid to the buildings framing the square. Among them is a pre-war building that housed one of the structural divisions of the Department of Ideological Work, Culture and Youth Affairs. During the inspection, it was found that the foundation settlement reached more than 30 cm, and the building could collapse at any moment like a house of cards. Cosmetic repairs would not suffice here. Therefore, at the regional headquarters for the preparation of “Dazhynki”, it was decided to demolish the dilapidated one-story structure and build a modern two-story building in its place, which will be executed in a unified architectural style with other objects closing the square. Currently, wall masonry is underway.

The Lenin monument, which stood in the square for many years, has been moved to the city park, which will also undergo a radical transformation. After an inspection, old trees have been cut down, which in turn allows for the symmetrical laying of sidewalks. Landscaping will also be carried out according to the new plan. The Alley of Glory will still occupy a prominent place in the city park, but it will be located more thoughtfully so that everyone can approach and view portraits of famous fellow countrymen. The creation of the Alley of Newlyweds will be a long-awaited event for the residents of Tolochin, Inna Stepanovna is convinced. Finally, grooms and brides will have a place where they can take beautiful romantic photos on their wedding day. A lovers' bench, a wishing tree, and a decorative bridge where newlyweds can attach their padlock will be located here. The issue of manufacturing a forged gazebo in the shape of a carriage is also being worked on. Not far from this island of love, a children's playground will be located, where local mothers will bring their children to ride on the slide and swings. The old playground, as well as the benches and gazebos that were previously located here, have been moved to other parts of the city where they will still be useful.

The restaurant located next to the square will also get a new life. It was built in the 1980s and has never undergone major repairs since then. Now it is being reconstructed and modernized, and the establishment will acquire a modern look both inside and out.

One of the construction projects that will perhaps be the first to reach the finish line is the city House of Culture. Work on it began even before Tolochin was chosen as the capital of the regional "Dazhynak". Internal finishing works are currently underway, and negotiations for the supply of equipment have begun.

Educational institutions, administrative and service buildings, and the housing stock are being put in order, roads are being asphalted on the central streets, sidewalks are being laid... The city has come alive in anticipation of its complete renewal.

– It is pleasant to note that the local population has taken the construction and repair work in the city with understanding. Moreover, residents of the private sector are repairing their fences, updating facades, and improving their adjacent territories themselves, and not only those whose homes face the main streets. Villagers are also actively tidying up in settlements adjacent to the roads used for entering the city, – says Inna Stepanovna.

Both local construction and repair services and organizations from neighboring regions are involved in the projects. In total, 36.3 billion rubles have been utilized to date, including 5.9 billion in republican funds, 12.8 billion in regional funds, and about 18 billion in district funds, allocated for the preparation of the main agricultural festival of the Vitebsk region.

Natalia Ryzhkova, "Vitebskiye Vesti"