By "Dazhynki-2015" in Tolochin, objects of the social, trade, and industrial spheres will be transformed
Less than a month remains for Tolochin to complete all initiated activities in preparation for the main village holiday – the regional "Dazhynki-2015". By September 1, the readiness of all 95 facilities will be checked by a commission. Currently, the city is a single large construction site: landscaping of central streets, a public garden, a square, and yard areas is underway, along with repairs to the residential sector and infrastructure facilities. Our conversation with the Chairman of the Tolochin District Executive Committee, Sergey Egorov, is about what has already been done for the main fair-festival of Pridvinye and what work still needs to be completed on time.
– Sergey Valerievich, there is very little time left until "Dazhynki-2015", and as they say, there is still a lot of work to be done. Are you meeting the planned deadlines?
– All planned facilities are undergoing repairs, and many of them are already ready for commissioning. The deadlines set by the regional headquarters for the completion of facilities by contracting organizations are being met by the builders, and in some places, they are even ahead of schedule.
– Such large-scale construction work has not been carried out in Tolochin for a long time. The district center is being transformed literally before our eyes…
– You are right. The transformation has affected not only social, trade, industrial, and service facilities but also roads, approaches, streets, recreational areas, and the residential sector.
As of today, the City House of Culture has become the Center of Culture. All premises and the building's facade have been repaired, the stage curtains have been updated, and new equipment has been purchased and is being installed.
The central square and the park will undoubtedly become the key objects of "Dazhynki". It is divided into peculiar thematic areas – a recreation zone, the Alley of Newlyweds, and a children's playground. New architectural forms have appeared – a gazebo in the shape of a carriage, a lovers' bridge, and an arch symbolizing the union of hearts is being erected. A musical fountain with illumination, which will undoubtedly become one of the main attractions of the city, will unite all the compositions of the park. Meanwhile, a whole group of designers and landscapers is working on the appearance of the square – spherical shrubs, decorative thuja trees, maples, and birches are being planted instead of old, dilapidated trees. During the holiday, attractions will be located here, a parking lot is provided, and biotoilets and containers will be installed.
Work has begun on the design of the Alley of Heroes of Tolochinshchyna. A gazebo in the shape of a swing and many other architectural highlights are being produced at the modern technical base of Kruglyansky PMK-266. This same organization is engaged in the landscaping of the territory of the central district hospital. The X-ray department is operating effectively after the completion of repairs under the "Dazhynki" program. Equipment for the new inter-district hemodialysis center, where residents of neighboring districts will also be able to receive assistance, is being tested. The appearance of the Central District Hospital has also changed – a sidewalk has been laid, pedestrian paths have been equipped, and the street adjacent to the hospital has been asphalted.
A large volume of work has been completed on educational facilities. Walls have been insulated, facades have been repaired, windows and roofs have been replaced, locker rooms and offices have been equipped, and new plumbing has been installed. We hope for the assistance of the Ministry of Education in replacing furniture, purchasing interactive whiteboards and multimedia installations, and buying new computers. One of the most modern sports and developmental children's play complexes will be installed on the territory of Secondary School No. 2.
The construction of a new facility – the central district library – has been completed. Now, the library system of the district center will be concentrated in a two-story building with a book elevator and spacious premises.
A new recreation area made entirely of natural materials by the hands of forestry craftsmen has appeared on the R25 highway instead of a vacant lot. The bridge has been repaired, streets and access roads to Tolochin have been asphalted, and paving stones have been laid. Asphalt paving is planned for almost all central streets and branching roads, extending into courtyards. Those that are not included in the improvement plan will also not be neglected. This task has been set for us by the head of the regional headquarters, Alexander Atyasov – to bring all streets adjacent to the central ones into order as much as possible.
– The restaurant has an unusual architecture and is liked by both the residents of Tolochin and the city's guests. However, since its construction in 1980, it has not been renovated and was therefore among the first facilities included in the reconstruction program. A large volume of work is being carried out by the district and regional consumer unions. Belkoopsoyuz has allocated funds for repairs and equipment purchase within the framework of the investment program. The restaurant will be completely renovated – both the facade and the interior. A pizzeria will be located on the first floor, in place of the old canteen. A children's cafe with an LCD TV is also being tastefully furnished.
– I know that you personally, as part of a mobile group, walked down every street and visited every private house in Tolochin. What problems did you encounter?
– For the most part, people understand what is happening in the district center now. After all, thanks to Tolochin being chosen as the venue for "Dazhynki-2015", the city will reach a good aesthetic and cultural level. The holiday of rural workers will give a new impetus to development. Residents are fully aware that the district center will become more comfortable to live in and interesting for tourists. And everything that has been done and is being done will remain for future generations. Therefore, they are making every effort to give their homes a proper appearance – roofs are being painted in one color, fences are being repaired, etc. Those enterprises and organizations where residents of the private sector work are also providing assistance in this. Issues with the remaining individual problematic houses will be resolved in the near future.
— Absolutely. 22 facilities are undergoing major repairs. Facades have been completely renovated, insulation is being carried out, roofing is being replaced, blind areas are being made, and entrances to apartment buildings are being repaired. Landscaping of courtyards is being completed on 8 main combined sites, with tiling and asphalting being carried out.
We plan to install modern multifunctional children's playgrounds on 16 courtyards with the financial assistance of organizations from the district and region.
The central streets of the city have become much more beautiful, with updated sidewalk and road surfaces. Traffic lights will be installed in the city center and at the intersection with the R19 road. A number of LED banners and billboards will appear. The central stage for mass events will also be updated. Funds earned from subbotniks (volunteer workdays) are directed towards these goals, including the landscaping of the square, the installation of small architectural forms, and LED lighting.
It is also worth mentioning the alley of lanterns on Lenin Street, which will be a gift to the residents from the enterprises and organizations of Tolochin.
– Sergey Valeryevich, what awaits the residents of Tolochin after the reorganization of the consumer services complex?
– One of the successful enterprises in the city, the Tolochin Elevator, is being transferred to district communal ownership, and based on the decision made, it will be merged with the consumer services complex. However, with the condition that a number of new services that are currently in demand will be introduced.
Based on one of the buildings of the consumer services complex on Engels Street in Tolochin, we plan to create a shopping and entertainment center with the arrangement of retail outlets, public catering facilities, the creation of cosmetology and massage rooms, a solarium, a swimming pool-sauna complex, a billiard room, bowling, etc. There are plans to equip a pier on the Drut River and organize a summer outdoor cafe at this location. The issue of cleaning the reservoir in this part of the city and using boats and catamarans for water recreation is being worked out.
– Thank you for the interview.
Olga Lebedeva, "Vitebskiye Vesti". Photo by the author.
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