I. Metshin about the Lebyazhie Lakes: “It is more beautiful in reality than it was on the paper”

(KZN.RU, November 13, Alsu Safina). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, called Tatarstan and his capital the flagships of the big movement, which is gaining momentum in the country, commenting on the results of the program for landscaping places for mass recreation today on the Business Monday. Igor Kulyazhev, the deputy head of the Executive Committee and the chairman of the Committee for External Improvement, delivered a report on the work done at the staff meeting.

“I'm very attentive to the changes in other cities. Except for Moscow and St. Petersburg, nowhere else they are paying so much attention to public spaces and areas”, he said and thanked the enterprises involved in the landscaping of Kazan.

Ilsur Metshin noted that this work began as part of the program “Five Years of Health” in Kazan and the republic and eventually grew up into a large project headed by Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT. “We see a lot of changes in the republic not only in big cities such as Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhnekamsk, Almetyevsk but also in regional centers”, said the Mayor.

According to him, the renewed public spaces, parks, squares, embankments, are in demand by residents. “The residents are very attentive to everything that happens in the parks”, said I. Metshin. “They take an active part in the discussion, for what I thank them. Every public space, every park passes a public hearing, an examination of our residents, and we decide what to be there together”.

Igor Kulyazhev said that a vivid example of such interaction and realization of the wishes of the citizens was the children's park “Kaleidoscope” on Sirtlanova Street. Each object in the Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest is also made taking into account the opinion of the citizens.

Another great project, which was carried out this year, was the eco-rehabilitation of the Lebyazhie lakes system. Ilsur Metshin thanked investors: the GC “Taif” and the “Kazanorgsintez”.

“We saw some wonderful pictures. This is what we already have”, said the Mayor. “It turned out really to be even more beautiful than what was on the paper”.

Work on the Lebyazhie will continue. Igor Kulyazhev told journalists that it is necessary to equip the coastal zone and the beach, which is planned to be provided with all necessary attributes: sunshades, chaise lounges, locker rooms, etc.

“There is still a lot of work to be done”, said the Mayor. “But the ski base will start working in winter, and the forest in a new format will be available to our residents”.

Ilsur Metshin noted that much work is expected to improve the public space around the “Kazan”. “There will be a whole cascade of changes in public space, starting with the metro station “Kozya Sloboda” and past to “Tatmedia”, a large pedestrian promenade, a large square. We will familiarize you with the plans”, said the Mayor. “We are already starting work there. The Bondarenko road will be finished, which will connect the streets S. Khakim and Chistopolskaya. The street will be overhauled. The entire landscaped cascade of public spaces will be kept for residents and guests of the capital after the World Cup 2018”.

The Chairman of the Committee for External Improvement noted that next year, it is planned to direct funds primarily to parks where works and landscaping have already begun: the Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest and the “Kaleidoscope”.

In general, 50 objects worth more than 3 billion rubles have been updated and created in Kazan over the last 7 years. The total area of park areas has increased by 125 hectares. 35 recreation places have been updated and 15 were created from scratch. Today there are 140 parks and squares in Kazan with a total area of about 367 hectares, said I. Kulyazhev.