The recreation park in Teremky, Kyiv, is under threat: what are the plans for the site?

The recreation park in Teremky, Kyiv, is under threat: what are the plans for the site? shutterstock
Hanna Velyka

Activists were surprised by the sudden change in stance by officials who are supposed to protect the capital's green spaces

Part of the "Teremky" Recreation Park is under threat due to the authorities' plan to lay a heating pipeline from the "Teremky" residential complex to TM-4 of TPP-5.

This warning was issued by the Kyiv Ecological and Cultural Center (KECC).

Construction is planned on a plot of land with cadastral number 8000000000:79:488:0053—this is nearly 2 hectares of forest strip with mature trees and bird nesting sites. It is part of the park established by a decision of the Kyiv City Council in 2019.

Activists pointed out that previously, the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation of the Kyiv City State Administration had officially stated that construction within the park’s boundaries violates environmental protection laws. Officials had even refused to approve permits for the removal of greenery, recommending that an alternative route be sought.

But now the position of the Kyiv City State Administration’s Environmental Department has suddenly changed. Its officials have approved a new survey report and now assure that the forest belt will be “restored” after construction.

“But young saplings will not compensate for the destruction of dozens of old trees and the loss of a well-established ecosystem,” the KECC emphasizes.

Thus, activists are concerned with the following questions:

  • why the authorities do not want to lay the heating pipeline along the road;
  • why an alternative route through the new development areas is not being considered;
  • whether officials are using the “threat of a lack of heating” as a pretext to promote a solution beneficial to developers.

The KECC reported that on May 20 at 17:00 in Kyiv, at the Academy of Labor, Social Relations and Tourism, located at: 3-A Kiltseva Road, a public discussion will take place regarding the heating network construction project. Therefore, activists called on the Teremky community, environmental defenders, and all concerned citizens to attend the discussion and stand up for the green zones of the district.


As EcoPolitic reported a month ago, KECC activists called on concerned Kyiv citizens to join in the protection of the “Ancient Oaks” nature monument. This site, part of a 21-hectare plot on the grounds of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, was targeted for development – with plans to build hotel and administrative buildings there.

Related
Around a hundred organisations are calling for the Great Meadow to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Around a hundred organisations are calling for the Great Meadow to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In addition to gaining access to the historical site, the researchers also witnessed a remarkable restoration of a unique natural ecosystem

16% of the State Forestry Agency’s forests already have protected status
16% of the State Forestry Agency’s forests already have protected status

Over the past half-century, the area of land with protected status has increased more than fourfold

The cost of life: how much does it cost to evacuate animals from a war zone?
The cost of life: how much does it cost to evacuate animals from a war zone?

Almost half of all expenditure goes on healthcare — from sterilisation to the treatment of serious illnesses