I. Metshin: "Parks and gardens are a certain philosophy of life"

(Kazan, KZN.RU, April 20, by Irina Smirnova) Residents' opinions need to be taken into account in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of green spaces. Such instructions were given by Ilsur Metshin, mayor of Tatarstan's capital, at today's Business Monday meeting.

The mayor said that the current year has been declared as the Year of Parks and Gardens in Tatarstan. According to a deputy head of the Executive Committee, Chairperson of the Committee for Land Improvement, Igor Kulyazhev, there are 49 sq.m of green space per capita in Kazan today, the norm being 25 sq.m. Kazan has 132 parks with a total area of 276 hectares, 17 of them being large and occupying  118 hectares.

The approved program of urban park revival for this year includes 32 objects occupying 146 hectares. Each of the selected parks and gardens has its unique, historically developed architecture and requires an individual approach. In this regard, conceptual designs are being prepared with particular care. Creative teams and representatives of public, sports and youth organizations are involved in the discussion of the improvement of each object

"Parks and gardens are not just places for recreation. They are a certain philosophy of life. Everyone has vivid childhood memories associated with a particular park or garden,” said Ilsur Metshin. “Public discussion of the project is vitally important. We should take into account townspeople's opinions, especially of those who live close to the green spaces and will visit them often."