Elbek Park is being reconstructed; the Park of Uzbek-Turkish Friendship is being created here

Elbek Park in Tashkent, with an area of 11.74 hectares, will be completely reconstructed, and part of its territory will be allocated for the Uzbek-Turkish Friendship Square. A public hearing on the project took place here on Saturday. Residents of neighboring houses were able to express their suggestions, and the city administration promised to take them into account.

This large green area, located almost in the very center of the capital, had been in a neglected state for many years. Despite the lack of normal conditions and lighting, city residents still constantly walked and played sports here, held picnics and photo shoots — in spring and early summer, violets bloomed here. From time to time, a group of volunteers cleared trash, but it was impossible to keep the park clean and orderly through the efforts of residents alone.

In the summer of 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the park. His press service did not disclose details, reporting only that he "gave instructions on preserving this park and expanding conditions for public recreation." However, no work began at that time.

This year, it became known that part of the park will be named after the first President of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In addition, in the summer, the President signed a decree renaming part of Abdulla Kadiri Street in front of the park to Atatürk Street.

This week, workers began dismantling the old irrigation system and trimming trees in the park, and special equipment appeared on the site. This raised questions and concern among residents. At the Saturday hearing, representatives of the khokimiyat assured that the park would become better, safer, and more comfortable.

Azizkhon Shavkatov, Deputy Khokim of Tashkent for Tourism, Culture, Cultural Heritage, and Mass Communications, reported that the khokimiyat had been working with the Turkish Embassy on the project of the renovated park over the past year. Its concept was developed by a Turkish architectural firm.

According to him, the main task was to preserve the park as a quiet green area while creating functional spaces for people of different ages and interests.

According to the presented concept, a main entrance with a small square, a crescent-shaped arch, a monument to Atatürk, and a small pond in the shape of the Sea of Marmara will appear from the side of Atatürk (Abdulla Kadiri) Street.

Initially, the crescent was planned to be 80 m wide, but then it was decided to reduce it almost 2.5 times — to 38 m — and move it to where there are fewer trees.

An inventory of all trees has begun. Out of thousands of trees, approximately 160 dried-up and currently 450–500 diseased trees have been identified, although this number may grow. They are currently awaiting the conclusion of dendrologists, who must determine whether the trees can be treated or if they will have to be replaced.

Another 67 trees growing on the site of the future square are planned to be transplanted. A positive conclusion from dendrologists has already been received for them — the maximum trunk thickness of these trees is 25 cm.

The site of the future square is marked with a white line.

About 500 new ones will be planted to replace the dried-up and diseased trees. These will be perennial trees from a nursery, and while there are currently many conifers in the park, priority will be given to deciduous ones. Additionally, 1,250 shrubs and almost 14,000 seasonal flowers will be planted.

"All work will be carried out under the supervision of ecologists. In the morning, the Chairman of the Ecology Committee, Aziz Abdukhakimov, was here, and his comments were also taken into account," Azizkhon Shavkatov reported.

Work has begun to narrow the former roadway to create an alley.

A 510-meter-long pedestrian alley will appear on the site of the former road that crosses the park and is usually used by residents for walking and sports. Shade-providing new trees and shrubs will be planted along it, and lanterns, benches, cameras, and emergency buttons will be installed. The width of the path will be reduced from 16 to 10 m, thanks to which the park will gain 3,000 sq. m of additional green territory.

A 1,250-meter-long running track with a rubber surface will be laid through the park in the form of a curved loop. According to the deputy khokim, its route was developed taking into account the preservation of trees. A bicycle path is not provided in the park.

Connecting paths will be organized for moving between grounds and through the park. In addition, as Azizkhon Shavkatov noted, it is quite likely that people will beat paths along routes convenient for themselves.

The authorities intend to observe this for a year and then pave such paths with tiles. This is a new word in urban improvement in Tashkent, which cannot but be welcomed. In world practice, this technique has long been used.

Functionally, the park is planned to be divided into a children's zone, active recreation zones — workout and gymnastics — and quiet recreation zones, places for picnics and socializing with tables and benches, as well as areas for walking dogs.

Instead of irrigating fountains, which consume a lot of water, a drip irrigation system will be laid.

The park will have three main entrances, but it will remain open from all sides. In the part where Atatürk Street and the Little Ring Road connect, a small parking lot will be preserved. Parking spaces may also appear along the Little Ring Road.

When it came to questions and suggestions, residents initially expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the hearing was taking place not before the start of work in the park, but after. In their opinion, prior notification would have helped avoid dissatisfaction and rumors.

"That is why we invited you, to answer all questions and dispel concerns," Azizkhon Shavkatov said.

One of the pensioners suggested installing drinking fountains in the park so that walkers and people playing sports could get water. The idea was supported and promised to be implemented.

Another resident said that there used to be three places here where both adults and children played badminton all day. He asked to make at least two courts. This proposal was also supported.

A female resident asked to preserve the violet fields. The deputy khokim said that they would try to do so.

Among other suggestions was to plant trees suitable for the local climate. This has already been taken into account in the project.

Answering a question about funding, Azizkhon Shavkatov reported that the funds were allocated from the budget of the capital's khokimiyat. It is planned to complete the work by the end of November.

The deputy khokim said he would be glad to meet with residents again in the park so that they could evaluate the result.

In August, fences around the former residence of the first president, "Oksaroy," were dismantled. The authorities promised to make a park open to everyone there and also announced the creation of a "green route" in Tashkent.