The renewed Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest was officially opened in Kazan

(KZN.RU, December 25, Mikhail Chentsov). The official opening of the renovated Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest was held today in the capital of Tatarstan. The festival was continuing all day on a landscaped area of 67 hectares. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of Tatarstan, and Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, came to congratulate the citizens.

Starting from 10.00, festive entertainment program was waiting for all visitors of the forest. The musicians and folk groups performed on stage, the Fire rooster, the symbol of the next year, danced with them, and Ded Morozes came on bikes.

The head of Tatarstan addressed the audience from the main festival venue of the forest. “Friends, I congratulate you on the new park for entertainment, sports, and children. This program (ed. – The program of parks and squares improvement) has been working for two years. It will also work for the next year. I think that this place was of a great need for this neighborhood. I congratulate you all on the park, Happy New Year”, said R. Minnihanov. He noted that there should be more green spaces such as Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest in Kazan and throughout the republic.

During the inspection of the reconstructed forest, R. Minnikhanov and I. Metshin were presented two-storey ski lodge, where you can take sports equipment for rent, as well as hot tea to keep warm in cold weather. Guests walked through the well-equipped paths that were laid by the builders on the paths, which have been already trodden population.

Skiers now and then sped away near the tracks. New illuminated track with length of 1, 3 and 5 km allow citizens to engage in their favorite sport even in the dark. The President and the Mayor visited the children's eco-playground, created by the architectural studio “Cheharda”, as well as the constructing building of the eco-center.

Only the first stage of the forest landscaping works has been completed this year. I. Metshin reminded that all of the remaining work will be completed in the second phase of reconstruction in the next year. According to the Mayor, the Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest is popular not only among the local residents. “It will serve residents of Azino-1, Azino-2, Gorki and the Tankodrom. Taking into account transport accessibility, I think it will be a place of attraction and the rest of Kazan citizens and guests of the capital”, said the Mayor of Kazan. “This is a great event for the city. I remember how we came to ski in the still unsettled park. Now it has changed”, said I. Metshin. The Mayor also thanked the President of the republic and Kazan residents, who took part in the project, for the support.

Natalya Fishman, the assistant to the President of the RT, Farid Abdulganiyev, the Minister of Ecology and Natural resources of the RT, Damir Fattakhov, the first deputy head of the Executive Committee, Igor Kulyazhev, the deputy head of the Executive Committee and the chairman of the Committee of improvements, Rustem Gafarov, the head of the Sovetsky district administration, Andrei Lobov, the head of Vakhitovsky and Privolzhsky districts administration, and others also attended the event.