Curiosities of Kyiv: Natalka Park

Natalka Park, which stretches along the bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv’s Obolon district, is one of the most modern parks in the capital. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko described it as the "gold standard" of all the green areas of the capital, stressing that it is even better than New York's Central Park which cannot boast such an amazing view of the Dnipro. The park’s area totals about 25 hectares. Its name comes from the eponymous tract, which for a long time was a wasteland between the Obolon residential area and the Dnipro.

Nowadays, Natalka Park is an ideal recreation area with a modern design and all the necessary infrastructure, thought out to the minutest. There are playgrounds, numerous sports areas, bicycle paths with a PV coating, a 400-metre jogging track, a mini-football field, a basketball court, a labyrinth and more than 10 restaurants and cafes. The green area deserves special attention, as it is carefully maintained. All the trees and flower beds in the park are equipped with automatic irrigation with water intake from the Dnipro River, so they delight the eye from early spring to late autumn.

The central alley is decorated with park sculptures and various art installations. There is also a private beach, three gazebos with a beautiful view of the Dnipro River, a yacht club and an amazing Garden of Stones. A golf club is located in the far part of the park. The park is inclusive: everything here is equipped with special needs in mind - ramps, convenient descents, etc. Good lighting at night and round-the-clock video surveillance ensure that the park area is safe at all times.

A bit of history: in 1939, a secret construction project was underway on the territory of the modern park. The project was intended to build the Stalinist subway under the Dnipro river. But in 1941 when the war broke out and all work stopped. A huge reinforced concrete caisson remains in the park from this project. In the 1960s and 70s, it was home to the Zhurnalist recreation centre, and in the early 2000s, the Golden Gate Show Park, which hosted extreme-sports shows, jousting tournaments, and music festivals.

Caisson with a tunnel shield, 1943.

In the 2000s, part of the tract was allocated for Obolon Park as part of a project with Obolonska Embankment. Several adjacent plots of green space became available for development. The public, with the support of the city authorities, managed to return the land to the capital. In 2013, comprehensive reconstruction of the landscape space began. On 27 May 2017, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko opened the first section of the park, and on 13 July 2018, the second section was unveiled. In the future, it is planned to continue to develop and improve the area.

You can take a walk in the park at the following address: 9 Obolonska Embankment.