In July, Vitebsk's central Frunze Park celebrates its birthday: it turned 65 years old

Over the decades, this green oasis in the heart of the regional center has been transformed many times.

Long-time residents remember it behind a stone fence, where you had to pay for entry, and the main entertainment in the post-war year of 1949 was dancing. Then a reading room with fresh newspapers, chess, and checkers appeared, a gorodki (a Russian folk game) court, swings and carousels, and the famous for many years wooden “Green Theater”, where all visiting stars performed. Small architectural forms in the shape of various animals – from bears and elk to an exotic elephant – became the decoration of the park. Its area today is 15 hectares.

The park was named after the legendary revolutionary in 1926. In general, the park's history began in the mid-19th century with the laying of the bishop's garden. More than 700 different trees and shrubs, including rare ones, were planted there. Only after the revolution did the park become publicly accessible.

Today, there are about a dozen parks in Vitebsk, not counting squares, with a total area of over 70 hectares.

Natalia DROZDOVA, "Vitbichi"