Ilsur Metshin invites New York mayor to 2015 FINA World Cup

(Kazan, KZN.RU, June 10, by Adelya Galieva) Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin is taking part in the 6th World Cities Summit Mayors Forum, which is taking place in New York City. During the forum, the head of the capital of Tatarstan, together with the leaders of the world's most progressive cities, discussed effective approaches to solving urban problems and visited a unique project – the High Line Park, where he studied the experience of creating an innovative green space in an urban environment.

The World Cities Summit Mayors Forum has brought together 80 leaders of such cities as Rome (Italy), Tbilisi (Georgia), Xi'an (China), Woolahara (Australia) and Quang Ngai (Vietnam) among others. The forum participants represent their cities, famous for successful urban practices and achievements in various fields. Note that Russia is represented by only one city – Kazan.

According to the organizers, since the summit has gathered leaders of the world's most progressive cities, the event helps strengthen international ties among the participants. The forum was organized with the support of The Center of Sustainable Asian Cities, City Development Department, as well as by the WCS flagship event, which is held every two years in Singapore.

The main theme of this year's summit is "Innovative features of the city." The event includes an interactive discussion of current urban problems within the framework of such workshops as "Construction and economic development," "Transport and mobility," "Sustainability" and "Education and competitiveness." The deputy head of the Executive Committee for Economic Development, Ivan Kuznetsov, who accompanies the mayor of Kazan, emphasized that representatives of all the cities are willing to share their experiences during the discussion of urban problems. Thus, the forum participants have the opportunity to explore the best projects of urban development and public works from around the world.

" Numerous interesting international practices were presented at the forum, and we will certainly study them closely. It is important that Kazan also has something to show and tell about. The forum participants were interested to hear about the development of the capital of Tatarstan. The summit has given us a new opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation," summed up I.Kuznetsov.

A significant event of the summit was visiting places that afford examples of successful practical application of innovative urban programs and ideas: the Brooklyn Waterfront, the business and technical center of the borough and other sites. Thus, the mayor of Kazan, accompanied by Leonard Greco, a current vice president and project manager for the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and by the project manager of the Department of Parks of New York, Leslie Wolfe, visited a unique innovative project – the High Line Park in Manhattan.

This park is laid out on an elevated section of a disused railroad line, 10 meters above the ground. After the railroad was closed in 1980, the developers suggested building a park at the site instead of dismantling the track  –  creating a green island in the middle of the city while preserving the historic landscape. Construction work began in 2006, the opening of the first section taking place in June 2009. At present the park is 2.33 km long. Urban planners from Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore and Jerusalem are studying the High Line Park project. Ilsur Metshin also familiarized himself with park features.

It should be noted that Kazan's participation in the forum provided an opportunity to present the FINA World Aquatics Championships, which will take place in the capital of Tatarstan this summer. Ilsur Metshin invited New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, as well as other city leaders, to visit Kazan during the Aquatic Championships and the Masters Competition.