The Reconstruction of Savitsky Park
The presentation of the project for the reconstruction of Savitsky Park took place in Odessa, which elicited a mixed reaction among the members of the historical-toponymic commission. The new project involves creating a memorial zone for dismantled monuments of the Soviet and imperial eras.
According to the plan, in the western part of the park, between Malinovsky District Court and the pond (the total area of the park is 19.36 hectares), the installation of a totalitarianism memorial is planned. The project, developed by Odessa Project Design Institute, includes the installation of sculptures and monuments that were removed from the streets and buildings of Odessa as part of the decommunization and decolonization processes.
Additionally, the reconstruction includes landscaping the green area of the park, which has been neglected since the time when the park was named after the Lenin Komsomol. Planned are paving stones for paths and the installation of gazebos near the pond.
However, the project did not receive unanimous support. Members of the toponymic commission criticized it for lacking a clear concept. «It is unclear why different historical figures such as Catherine and Lenin or Zhukov can stand near one monument,» said local historian Alexander Babich. According to him, it is important not only to place monuments in the park, but also to convey to visitors information about the significance of these figures in the history of Ukraine and Odessa, their connection to Russian totalitarianism and empire.
Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, International Cooperation, and European Integration, Fedir Stoyanov, stated that this is only the first version of the project, and all feedback will be taken into account in future versions.
