Central Children's Park Gorky in Minsk Reopens May 1, 2025

The Central Children’s Park named after Maxim Gorky in Minsk, familiar to every city dweller, is undergoing extensive reconstruction. Not long ago, this place resembled a massive construction site with heavy machinery and an army of specialists of various profiles. However, by May 1, 2025, the park plans to welcome visitors in its renewed form, offering modern venues and comfortable rest areas for both children and adults.

History and Scale of the Reconstruction

The large-scale renovation of Gorky Park was planned three years ago. In June 2022, the park administration invited concerned Minsk residents to a public discussion of the new concept. Everyone was able to share their ideas and wishes for the improvement of their favorite recreation spot. Work began in October 2024 and is in full swing in spring 2025. According to Gleb Kuznetsov, head of the Central Children’s Park named after Maxim Gorky, the reconstruction was necessary because “time dictates its own conditions.” Symbolically, the park’s renovation is taking place in the Year of Improvement, as the director notes with a smile.

Modern Design and New Commercial Pavilions

One of the main changes affected the retail outlets. The park got rid of unsightly metal and plastic kiosks that once sold food and toys. In their place, 27 permanent commercial pavilions have appeared, executed in a unified style using natural materials. The new food and entertainment points are designed in an architectural style that refers to the use of wooden slats in Gorky Park of the 1930s. The pavilion designs blend organically into the surroundings both along the embankment and on the park’s main alleys. These commercial pavilions include rental spaces for catering venues, face painting, photo services, children’s toys, and other goods. The park’s traditional corn and cotton candy will also remain in the assortment.

Children’s Play Areas

Special attention in the renovated park is paid to children’s recreation. On the side of Pervomayskaya Street, there is a large playground with a giant brigantine ship equipped with slides, ladders, and a variety of obstacles that attract not only children but adults as well. The playground is equipped with a safe rubber surface and swings for the little ones. A spacious sandbox provides enough room for everyone, and a rope town with obstacles of varying difficulty offers alternative entertainment. Interestingly, next to the modern play area lies an attraction from a completely different “gaming universe” — the realm of Baba Yaga. This authentic, wooden, deliberately rough structure has already won children’s hearts, proving that not only plastic constructions can be appealing. In addition, next to the “Brigantine” playground, installation work is underway on another play complex with various climbing structures and slides for children.

Quiet Rest Zone on the Site of the “Fairy Tale Castle”

The park’s update also required some farewells. At the end of October 2024, the famous “Fairy Tale Castle” café, which stood along Frunze Street for almost two decades, was demolished. This step caused unrest among Minsk residents, for whom the place was associated with warm memories. However, after the coronavirus pandemic, the café fell into decline and turned into ruins. On the site of the demolished “Fairy Tale Castle,” a quiet rest zone is now nearing completion. Wooden decking on piles is being installed near the bay to allow close access to the water. Here benches will appear, trees and water lilies will be planted. This location promises to become a cozy and secluded spot for relaxation and photoshoots, which will be hard to associate with the usual Gorky Park.

Embankment and Infrastructure Upgrades

Changes have also affected the Svisloch embankment near the park. Four mini-cafés operated by “Minskgzelendstroi” are being installed here. In this zone, it is planned to create summer terraces where visitors can relax with children, indulge in ice cream, drink cool beverages, and admire the river. For lovers of water excursions, the opportunity to take a boat ride on the Svisloch remains. Along the embankment, the blocks from the bridge at Pervomayskaya to the dam are also being replaced. In addition to the visible changes, significant work is underway in the park to update infrastructure:

• replacement of communications
• laying of additional optical lines
• installation of additional video surveillance cameras
• replacement of transformers in the distribution substation
• installation of new turnstiles at the attractions’ entrances
• replacement of old benches with new ones

Attractions and Safety

In the new season, 28 attractions are planned to be launched. According to the park management, ticket prices are still being calculated, but the entertainment should remain accessible to all citizens. Among the updates:

• modernization of the popular “Waltz” attraction with replacement of the “shells” with new ones from a Belarusian manufacturer
• preparation of the site for a new “Dragons” attraction, functionally similar to the “Swans”
• prospective sites for go-karting and the “Fire Brigade” attraction
• a new laser shooting gallery, moved from the park named after Hugo Chávez

Special attention is paid to attraction safety. After the winter, all of them undergo thorough technical inspection. The most extreme and complex carousels are examined by specialists from the State Industrial Supervision. According to Gleb Kuznetsov, inspections now take more time — specialists try to disassemble more units and examine all mechanisms in detail. The Ferris wheel remains the most complex attraction and receives maximum attention during inspection. In the last season, its cabins had their glass replaced with more UV-resistant panes. This season, there will be fewer privately-owned attractions — they will make up about 5%. The park management explains this by the fact that attractions from “Minskgzelendstroi” are safer, as the organization is obliged to regularly monitor their technical condition.

Timeline and Expectations

According to the city authorities’ plans, the full completion of the reconstruction is scheduled for May 1, 2025. On that same day, the grand opening of the renovated park is planned. However, given the volume of work, the deadlines may be adjusted. Nevertheless, the park management assures that the attractions will definitely be operational by that date. Last season (from April to October), Gorky Park was visited by almost 1.5 million people, making it the most popular park under “Minskgzelendstroi.” After the reconstruction is completed, at least as many visitors are expected here. Even now, despite the ongoing work, Minsk residents continue to visit the park. People stroll, enjoying the warmth and spring sun, eagerly awaiting the opening of new venues and attractions.

Conclusion

The renovated Gorky Park promises to become an even more attractive recreation spot for Minsk residents of all ages. The combination of modern venues and historic architectural elements, comfortable areas for active and quiet recreation, safe attractions, and a unified aesthetic concept — all this creates a new image of the old good Gorky Park, ready to welcome city dwellers this spring.