For the first time, attention was paid to the problem of preservation of green spaces in Russia in the second half of the 18th century by the Russian emperor Peter III. He even issued a decree that forests are recognized as one of the most important riches of Russia, and raised the issue of respect for them. However, at present, the conservation of forests, especially within large cities, are particularly acute. Green areas are destroyed for the sake of profit - "for development", on the construction of which building firms profit.
So, the state of Piskarevsky Park in St. Petersburg has recently become increasingly sad. But this is one of the most famous historical parks in St. Petersburg.
The appearance of the park area
For a long time on the estate of the merchant Piskarev, in memory of which this historical district of the city was named, there was a fairly long forest. Mostly pine. Even after the sale of Piskaryov’s lands for cottages, the forest was not cut down. Part of the forest was destroyed in connection with the foundation of the Piskarevsky Memorial Cemetery during the years of the blockade in Leningrad, and after the war - under urban development. Not too large was left untouched, which in 1962 was ennobled. Here one of the few forest parks of the city was pitched.
Memorial near the park
The memorial in memory of 900 besieged days was opened near the eastern border of Piskarevsky Park in St. Petersburg, which over time was attributed to it as residential development.
Piskarevsky cemetery was not originally planned as a memorial zone. Due to the huge number of deaths among the townspeople due to the siege of hunger, cold, disease and bombing, it became necessary to allocate a new site for burial. Old cemeteries were sorely lacking. Everyone who died in hospitals, hospitals, at enterprises and in apartments was taken to Piskarevka, died on the street and at machine tools in factories. Everyone, from young to old, is old and young.
There are also some more reminders of the terrible war years: trenches and dugouts. Nothing remained of the runway for military aircraft, organized here during the war and the blockade. And the mass graves of Soviet soldiers, like the German cemetery nearby, have already disappeared from the face of the earth. But the memory of these wartime realities is still alive.
Sports and recreation areas near the forest park
In the place where there used to be a German cemetery, the Zenith Sports Games Palace and high-rise new buildings are now located.
The Zenit complex was built near Piskarevsky Park in 1975 on Butlerov Street as a training base for the Leningrad Zenit football team. At that time, it was a modern building erected from glass and concrete and surrounded by a spacious open balcony on the second floor. During the years of perestroika, the palace, in order to "survive", rented out areas under the clothing market here. And on the field at that time teenagers were engaged in football. Near the field, training zones were organized with then-small simulators. And office and internal areas were also leased.
Near the "Zenith" on the right there are small ponds that can hardly be called ponds. They are never cleaned, and therefore today are very boggy. To the left of the complex about ten years ago, on the site of a modern residential microdistrict, there was a pond, called by the locals "Dog". This place, which the townspeople used to rest and improve, was dangerous: the water was highly infected with bacteria, dogs were bathing here, there were no toilets, and therefore the pond completely replaced them. And this place was criminal: the police repeatedly caught security violators from the water.
The value of the forest park for citizens
Many residents try to capture a variety of mass events organized by the district administration in Piskarevsky park in the photo. Moreover, the forest park is important for residents of the surrounding area. This is a favorite place for walks in the summer under the canopy of foliage and coniferous paws, in the winter through snowdrifts and skiing. Here, in sunny summer weather, lovers of dark skin and ultraviolet hunters roast in the sun. Dogs are walking here as well, because you can always find a clearing to play with your pet and train it “in the open”. And right behind the forest park from the side of the cemetery there is a specially equipped dog platform where professional trainers work.
For a long time, the local population used Piskarevsky Park in the summer as a place for a picnic and grilled kebabs directly on bonfires, baked potatoes. Every summer, firefighters came here to call. Then the bonfires were replaced by barbecues, but there were no less fires. And now here you can meet lovers of relaxation "in nature", but more and more with sandwiches. Local drinkers also like to relax under the canopy of trees, which can often be seen sweetly falling asleep under a bush.
Condition assessment
Residents of the district leave different reviews about Piskarevsky park: both positive and negative. Unfortunately, in recent years, less and less want to go to Piskarevsky Forest Park for a walk to ordinary citizens. Everything here requires attracting special attention to the state of the park, which spontaneously overgrows and begins to resemble a forest with a windbreak, piles of garbage and dug land, plowed paths.
But you have to cross the territory of the forest park - either go to the Kalinin base for groceries, or take the kids out of school to a rally at the Piskarevsky memorial. And in the evenings in the winter it’s better not to meddle here: you need help from a dashing person - you won’t scream!