“Those areas where residents are more active are improved faster”: Irina Ten about the EP “Urban Environment” project

— What indicators are to be achieved for the project in 2024? What are your plans?

— In total, in the region in 2024 it is planned to improve 85 courtyards and 45 public areas. In particular, in Tambov, during the rating voting, residents chose a public garden in the area of ​​children’s music school No. 2 named after V.K. Merzhanov, Pionersky Park and Akhlebinovskaya Grove.

— Are any of the planned objects the most significant or particularly complex?

— For the current year, plans for the city of Tambov are very important. At the same time, improvement of the winning facilities in the administrative center has already begun. Work has begun on Akhlebinovskaya Grove, the oldest park in the city. Without exaggeration, the entire city voted for the improvement of the grove, since South Park has been a natural monument since 1979. The head of the Tambov region, secretary of the United Russia party, Maxim Egorov, also supported this object in the rating vote. Tambov residents come here to look at the oldest oak trees, which are hundreds of years old, and also to feed the birds and squirrels. As residents of Pekhotka and nature lovers say, the grove just needs to update the paths and add lighting so that you can walk in the evening. It is very important not to disturb the unique environment of the park, which is why all actions of contractors are coordinated with the environmental department. In addition, there is a very active public here, which also constantly monitors the work, interacting with local governments.

In the park in the area of ​​children’s music school No. 2 named after V.K. Merzhanov, the landscaping that was once done has fallen into disrepair: tiles have broken off from the fountain fence, street lighting supports have rusted through. Therefore, residents of the northern part of the city are waiting for the renovation of the winning square.

Pioneer Park attracts a huge number of people; elderly people, parents with children and teenagers walk here. There is enough space for everyone, but the condition of this property leaves much to be desired. The landscaping and lighting of the park needs updating; the trees are many years old, so it is necessary to saw down dangerous branches, remove dead wood, and make the lighting more modern so that the facility can be used at any time of the day or year. Activists in this area say that they sometimes hold public meetings here on issues related to the development of the microdistrict.

Speaking about the implementation of the project “Formation of a comfortable urban environment,” I would like to note the scale of work carried out in the second largest city in the region, in Michurinsk.

The project to develop the historical part of Sovetskaya Street continues. Science City won the All-Russian competition for the best projects to create a comfortable urban environment in small towns and historical settlements. In 2023, reconstruction of the historical part of Michurinsk began: Michurin Square and Sovetskaya Street. Work is ongoing this year and will be completed by the end of the year. The choice of citizens made it possible to combine the funds of the All-Russian competition and the means of “Formation of a comfortable urban environment” to ensure a comprehensive development of the most important and beautiful part of the city. Interesting solutions for small architectural forms in the ancient style will be implemented, and the alley with pylons will tell about the main milestones of the city’s history.

The project “Formation of a Comfortable Urban Environment” is very popular, but not as resource-intensive as other federal projects. As a rule, objects under this program are “closed” year after year. The All-Russian competition for the best projects to create a comfortable urban environment in small towns and historical settlements, initiated by Head of State Vladimir Putin, is larger-scale. Grants from this project allow us to apply new approaches to landscaping and find interesting solutions for cities. The implementation of such projects is designed for more than one year. Three cities of the Tambov region became winners of the All-Russian competition in 2023. In Uvarovo they plan to improve the coastal area of ​​the Vorona River. In Kirsanov – Green Square, and in Morshansk – the embankment of the Tsna River along Svobodnaya Street. In total, 145 projects won across Russia, the implementation of which will take place in 2024-2025.

— What transformations are included in the minimum list of works when landscaping courtyards? Have there been cases where residents have asked for additional work?

— According to the Government Decree, the minimum list of courtyard improvement includes asphalt paving work, as well as lighting equipment, installation of benches, trash cans. Each municipality can decide for what purposes to allocate funds: improvement of courtyards or public areas, or all together in shares. This year, as in the previous year, courtyards in the city of Tambov are not being improved under the “Formation of a Comfortable Urban Environment” program. It should be noted that in the regional center there are still courtyards that are in deplorable condition, where the asphalt surface is destroyed or the area is flooded. Of course, in such courtyards, citizens expect any improvement. I think that in the administrative center it is worth returning to landscaping courtyards according to the minimum list.

However, thanks to the initiative of the Head of the Tambov Region, Maxim Egorov, a project for the arrangement of large-scale courtyard spaces, combining up to 10 apartment buildings, has been implemented for the third year. This year the project is called “The Road to Home for the Whole Family.” As part of the development of the territories, this project will include sports and play areas for children of different ages, wonderful places for quiet relaxation. In such areas, clear zoning has been made to isolate active teenagers from people who want to talk calmly or from mothers with babies in strollers.

People often contact me about landscaping issues; large apartment buildings are ready to join in co-financing certain works. Most often we are talking about the need to expand the roadway and equip parking areas. However, there are restrictions on the placement of parking lots, and they do not belong in courtyards.