The Oktyabrsky district gave the official name to this Barnaul park. But the inhabitants of the city still call it "Emerald." Most of those whose childhood passed during the Soviet era left the most positive memories of the park. Summer cafes, a winter ice rink, attractions, a planetarium ... It was nice to walk here at any time of the year. But in the nineties, this city garden came to desolation. What is being done in the park now? This will be described in our brief essay. It should be said that the Emerald Park has a very interesting history. And it is worth telling about it in order to understand the significance of some architectural objects on its territory. A tidbit of land almost in the center of the city has always attracted the attention of illegal developers. Let's see if the public managed to defend their park.
A brief history of the place
Even Barnaulites are surprised by the presence on the territory of the city garden of a structure similar to a sacred building. Something like the Planetarium resembles an Orthodox church, only without a cross and with four columns that do not fit very well into the ensemble. It is from this building that the whole story began. Connoisseurs of sacred architecture are not mistaken - this is really a church that used to be called the Cross Exaltation. And surrounded by her eponymous cemetery. Yes, the Emerald Park (Barnaul) is divided on the site of an old churchyard. However, there is no trace left of the cemetery. It is also known that in 1918, advocates of the proletarian revolution and Soviet power were massively shot at this place. This is now reminded of a small memorial. What happened, why did the cemetery turn into a park? This was facilitated by the construction of the Melange Plant.
Park formation
Large-scale transformations began in 1939. The territory of the cemetery was transferred at that time to Melange Plant. The church was closed in order to combat religious prejudice. The Soviet government had little sentiment towards the peace of the dead, so it was decided to demolish the tombstones, level the graves with the ground and set up the Emerald Park in this cemetery. Barnaul then acquired a planetarium, which is located in the building of the Holy Cross Exaltation Church. A vast pond was dug, new trees and shrubs were added to the plantations of the cemetery. True, at that time the new park had a different name - Culture and Rest Park. But the memory that a cemetery was located at this place was alive among the people. It is no coincidence that the dead Japanese prisoners of war were buried here.
Further transformation of the park. Names
It is no exaggeration to say that the park has changed along with the city and the whole country. His names also changed. When the tyrant of all nations died in 1953, the city authorities of Barnaul in a fit of servility renamed Kultury Park into Park named after Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. And they even put a monument to the dictator on the main alley. In less than three years, the pathos sign was dismantled and the sculpture demolished. At the beginning of our century, the Oktyabrsky district of the city contributed to the official name of the park, although locals still continue to call it “Emerald” even then. When the years of prosperity began (mid-seventies), the city found funds for a large-scale reconstruction of the cultural object. Walking alleys were covered with asphalt, the banks of the pond were reinforced with concrete slabs, new rides were set up, and additional landscaping was carried out.
Emerald Park (Barnaul) today
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city garden fell markedly. Desolation was visible in everything: in the paths, and in the bushes that grew without a caring hand, and in rusty attractions. But the locals continued to love their park. In winter, they laid down the track and poured the rink, in summer, catamarans were lowered into the water of the pond and a dance floor was arranged. The big Ferris wheel continued to operate - one of the few attractions left over from the Soviet era. Having survived the hard times of the nineties, the Emerald Park (Barnaul) began to develop again. There are new, modern attractions for both children and adults. Volleyball, basketball and streetball courts, a shooting gallery, and a cafe were built. The pond was filled with perches, pikes, mirror carps and crucians. But not everything is as rosy as we would like. The building, which housed the planetarium for many years, was transferred to the Barnaul diocese in the fourteenth year. A year later, the beautiful Mill Mill burned to the ground. All the time, attempts are made to alienate from the park a piece of territory for development. But the public does not allow this to be done.
Emerald Park (Barnaul): how to get there
The most beautiful entrance to this garden is located on Profintern Street. It is decorated with white columns with the inscription "Park of Culture and Rest." The garden is fenced around the perimeter. But you do not need to go around for a long time to get to the Emerald Park (Barnaul). The address of this urban infrastructure object is as follows: Komsomolsky prospect, 128. There is also an entrance to the park. In addition, you can drive up to him from Lenskaya Street and Sibirsky Prospekt.