An outdoor gym, a counting house, and a height measuring station are operating in the Novopolotsk park
This is a combination of natural and man-made beauty spread over 22 hectares along the bank of the Western Dvina River. The park adjoins the central city square, where all local official events are usually held. After these events, the residents of Novopolotsk, with their families, usually flock to the park. It is especially crowded here on May 1st, Victory Day, City Day, and other favorite calendar dates. During a single holiday, up to 7,000 tickets are sold for the rides alone, and the total number of visitors is countless.
A large part of the park is occupied by a green zone with asphalt paths, where pedestrians stroll, and skateboarders and rollerbladers race – there are no cars, just fresh air and tranquility. Last year, the city executive committee organized a targeted volunteer work day to raise funds for the repair of these paths.
The second important initiative for the park – the installation of small architectural forms – was carried out among enterprises. 22 different, originally designed benches were added to the 10 standard ones that already existed. All 14 production teams approached this task creatively and with ingenuity; some installed more than one bench.
And this year, another initiative by the city executive committee – equipping yard playgrounds – also extended to the park. For its youngest visitors, the Naftan joint-stock company has built a house with abacus, a clock with movable hands, and a height chart to help children learn to count, tell time, and measure their height, as well as swings and a sandbox. Interesting and beautiful things have been made from simple materials. Mothers willingly bring their children here.
There are 9 attractions operating in the active recreation zone. Similar attractions were installed in Vitebsk, Polotsk, and Orsha in the 1980s. Currently, according to the park's director, Anatoly Zhorov, Novopolotsk is the only place where such a number of them has been preserved.
– Thanks to my predecessors as director, the city executive committee, which pays a lot of attention to the park, and the enterprises,
who provide him with all possible assistance. This is very important, as there are not always enough funds for new expensive equipment, and visitors want to relax in an interesting way. As for the cost of visiting attractions, we rely on quantity – let everyone who wants to, especially children, use them at low prices, – says Anatoly Zhorov.This year, with the help of city builders, the abandoned building has been turned into a pneumatic shooting range, which is also popular. The dance floor has also been restored. It was used during the republican cross-country race ceremonies for the prizes of the newspaper "Sovetskaya Belorussiya" – a significant sporting event for the city, organized by the deputy of the National Assembly, Olympic medalist Vadim Devyatovsky. And the participants competed on the running tracks prepared within the park.
Another interesting project was initiated by the city committee of BRSM under the auspices of the department for ideological work, culture and youth affairs of the city executive committee. Funds raised were used to purchase a Belarusian-made sports and recreation complex – 12 exercise machines for various muscle groups. Nearby, there is a workout area – a popular strength training hobby among young people, and parallel bars – this makes it 14 exercise machines. From 6 am to 10 pm, it's crowded here, with residents of all ages coming. Soon, a few more will be added to this free pleasure, there is space. Currently, equipment is being installed on the beach volleyball court. The remaining free territory will not be empty either, we just need to choose between football and basketball.
So, Novopolotsk Park of Culture and Recreation is preparing to celebrate its half-century anniversary fully equipped, emphasizes the director:
– The park earns money from May to December. Mostly, it goes to the salaries of 11 permanent and 8 seasonal employees, payment of utility services, and minor repairs. One can count on the park's profitability only in a city with a population of at least 300,000, and ours is three times smaller. It is impossible to radically modernize the equipment with the funds earned during the season.
it will work out. But with joint efforts, we are trying to do everything possible so that Novopolotsk residents can enjoy their free time here, and today's children, when they grow up, will bring their descendants here.Galina Shpakovskaya. Photo by Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye vesti".