Den takes part in an eco-friendly action

Snow, rain, and even hail did not change the minds of conscious residents of Sviatoshyn District in Kyiv, who decided to have a weekend clean-up on April 1 near the Vasyl Stus Public Garden that is located at the intersection of two avenues: Victory Avenue and Palladin Avenue.

“Should there be those who do not laugh on this day?” Ukrainian writer Serhii HRABAR parried The Day’s question with a smile. “We have completely forgotten that there should be recreation places in Kyiv. You can build up everything, but where should we live then, in birdhouses?” This thought, expressed, however, in somewhat different words, was many times supported by other people I spoke to. Young people and, of course, some of The Day’s employees joined the representatives of the municipal association “Our Sviatoshyn District” and deputies of the Kyiv City Council. The total number of people who participated in this action was about 20 to 30. It is unfortunate that this sincere and fun action was preceded by the cutting of trees which took place in late February to clear the space for building a gas station. After seeing what was about to happen, Sviatoshyn District residents got together and practically swept away the booth and the fence, which was already put up by the developer. “Discussions about the Park and Vasyl Stus Public Garden have been on and off for 10 years already and they always begin before the elections start,” said Dmytro STUS, general director of the Taras Shevchenko National Museum. “I think this action will help to resolve the situation with building on the garden’s territory but it won’t resolve the situation all over Kyiv.”

Lev PARTSKHALADZE, Kyiv City Council MP and the head of the NGO “Our Sviatoshyn District” has nothing against gas stations: “Gas stations should be built but not in this location. We want to restore this garden. So far, we began with a small thing — we planted 50 trees for starters.” Serhii Burkal, deputy head of Sviatoshyn District State Administration promised to The Day that with time “there will be paved roads, benches, and street lights.” We will see.

According to the master of the district No.3 of Kyivzelenbud Tetiana OVERCHUK, the activists planted 30 bushes of snowberry and five bushes of each plant: rowan tree, decorative apple tree, and catalpa. “While there are very few people working in municipal langscaping, help of the community was greatly appreciated!” Tetiana said without hiding joyful emotions. Andrii Diachenko, student at European University, noted that Sviatoshyn District is “on one of the last positions judging by all parameters: living standards, public welfare…” Young man is convinced that in order to improve the situation in the district there is no need for great investments, the only things needed are a good idea and a team. While Diachenko responded to the invitation of the organizers, the student of Kyiv Gymansium of Oriental Languages No.1 Anastasia Tkach fount the information about the weekend clean-up in social networks. She said: “I did not even think that it could be some kind of a joke because I knew before that trees were cut in there and somebody would have to plant them sooner or later.”