Minskers to defend Loshytsa Park
The apple orchard will be eliminated and the manor of the Pryshynskis will be rebuilt in Loshytsa Park. This is the future of one of Minskers’ favourite recreation places. However, Minsk inhabitants are not going to wait for the park to disappear. A campaign in defence of the park has started on the Internet.
We are walking across the park with an artist Nika Sandros now. She alarmed the Belarusian segment of livejournal on the morning of July 18 and initiated an action near the park.
Nіka Sandros: “I read the news on tut.by in the morning… The tears started to my eyes. I think this is inadmissible! Everyone has something connecting them with this place: walking with your love, having a good day with your family, all the memories are full of happiness. Many people supported the idea to come here on July 21 at about 8 p.m. Lots of people have already posted special banners on their blogs in order to urge others to come. I hope people will come”.
The head of the Belarusian voluntary association for protection of historic and cultural monuments Anton Astapovich claims that Minskers do have something to worry about:
Anton Astapovіch: "The association has received information about reconstruction of the manor. It will be done in a really Belarusian way. The manor will be disassembled and recreated out of modern materials".
Mіkalai Karnyaichuk: “Where did you get the information from?”
Anton Astapovіch: “I cannot tell you about my sources as I would let down people working in state organs. The information was confirmed by the scientific supervisor of the object Halina Levina who said that she would not sign any document of the kind”.
We managed to get to the manor of the Prushynskis when it was open despite the warning about its bad condition. According to an employee of “Minskzelenbud” Uladzimir Ulahovich supervising Loshytsa Park, the manor is being restored and its historical value is in no danger. However, the apple orchard will most likely disappear from the map of Minsk:
Uladzіmіr Ulahovіch: “It contradicts to the construction plan somehow. But orchards cannot be considered cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is 200-year-old oak-trees. What a 20-year-old orchard is? Will we surprise anyone with this orchard?”
Meanwhile, bulldozers and other machinery are working near the river circling the park in the south. “The object’s certificate” informs that “cleaning of the Loshytsa River and reconstruction of buildings in order to improve the territory neighbouring with Loshytsa park complex” are in process. Anton Astapovcih claims that the construction is not being performed according to the Belarusian legislation or international methods:
Anton Astapovіch: “The river had to be cleaned long ago as it is was grassed and the grass was rotting. However, creating an artificial landscape is not historically justified; - it is just a rude violation”.
Minskers have a real opportunity to get one more popular “cultural” recreation place like Horki Park instead of Loshytsa Park this year. The people who will gather near the entrance to the park on July 21 will have something to discuss.
Photo by — Radzima.org
We are walking across the park with an artist Nika Sandros now. She alarmed the Belarusian segment of livejournal on the morning of July 18 and initiated an action near the park.
Nіka Sandros: “I read the news on tut.by in the morning… The tears started to my eyes. I think this is inadmissible! Everyone has something connecting them with this place: walking with your love, having a good day with your family, all the memories are full of happiness. Many people supported the idea to come here on July 21 at about 8 p.m. Lots of people have already posted special banners on their blogs in order to urge others to come. I hope people will come”.
The head of the Belarusian voluntary association for protection of historic and cultural monuments Anton Astapovich claims that Minskers do have something to worry about:
Anton Astapovіch: "The association has received information about reconstruction of the manor. It will be done in a really Belarusian way. The manor will be disassembled and recreated out of modern materials".
Mіkalai Karnyaichuk: “Where did you get the information from?”
Anton Astapovіch: “I cannot tell you about my sources as I would let down people working in state organs. The information was confirmed by the scientific supervisor of the object Halina Levina who said that she would not sign any document of the kind”.
We managed to get to the manor of the Prushynskis when it was open despite the warning about its bad condition. According to an employee of “Minskzelenbud” Uladzimir Ulahovich supervising Loshytsa Park, the manor is being restored and its historical value is in no danger. However, the apple orchard will most likely disappear from the map of Minsk:
Uladzіmіr Ulahovіch: “It contradicts to the construction plan somehow. But orchards cannot be considered cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is 200-year-old oak-trees. What a 20-year-old orchard is? Will we surprise anyone with this orchard?”
Meanwhile, bulldozers and other machinery are working near the river circling the park in the south. “The object’s certificate” informs that “cleaning of the Loshytsa River and reconstruction of buildings in order to improve the territory neighbouring with Loshytsa park complex” are in process. Anton Astapovcih claims that the construction is not being performed according to the Belarusian legislation or international methods:
Anton Astapovіch: “The river had to be cleaned long ago as it is was grassed and the grass was rotting. However, creating an artificial landscape is not historically justified; - it is just a rude violation”.
Minskers have a real opportunity to get one more popular “cultural” recreation place like Horki Park instead of Loshytsa Park this year. The people who will gather near the entrance to the park on July 21 will have something to discuss.
Photo by — Radzima.org
