Minsk Park Attractions: Closures and New Additions Summer 2025

Summer season of 2025 brought unexpected changes for fans of active recreation in the capital’s parks. Visitors of Minsk parks encountered that several popular attractions remained unavailable. Let’s delve into the reasons for this phenomenon and find out what awaits entertainment in the Belarusian capital in the near future.

Scale of the problem: how many attractions were affected

According to data from the Minsk City Office of the State Industrial Supervision Authority (Gospromnadzor), there are officially 58 entertainment facilities of various types registered in the capital. Among them are 34 mechanized rides, 4 mobile installations, and 20 water slides. These figures demonstrate how developed the entertainment industry in Minsk is. However, in the current season, eight facilities did not receive permission to operate. Four mechanized rides and four mobile installations remained behind the parks’ gates, creating a noticeable gap in the city’s entertainment program.

Geography of closures: which parks were hit hardest

The heaviest losses were suffered by the Chelyuskintsev Park, where three attractions were closed at once. Here, visitors will no longer be able to ride the “Kacheliks,” which are temporarily under repair. But the most painful losses are associated with the final closure of two legendary rides. The pendulum swings “Zubr,” which townspeople affectionately called “Ladya,” completed their many years of service. This ride was the symbol of the park and a beloved attraction for several generations of Minsk residents. Next to it, the “Super-8” mechanized slides—with a track length of up to 300 meters, which simultaneously inspired awe and fear among visitors—also stopped. The Central Children’s Gorky Park did not escape problems either. Here, the “Children’s Ferris Wheel”—one of the most popular family attractions—was sent for repairs.

Main reason: new safety regulations

The key factor affecting the closure of attractions is related to changes in legislation. In 2025, significant amendments were made in Belarus to the Rules for Ensuring Industrial Safety of Attractions. The new standards established a strict limitation: now any attraction can be operated for a maximum of three normative service life terms. This decision is aimed at increasing visitor safety, but at the same time led to the decommissioning of equipment that could technically still operate. “Ladya” and “Super-8” in Chelyuskintsev Park fell under this rule. Both attractions had served more than three normative service life terms and were recognized as unsuitable for further operation. In 2025, their complete dismantling and disposal are planned.

Technical condition: between repair and decommissioning

It is important to understand the difference between attractions that are temporarily closed for repairs and those that are permanently decommissioned. The “Children’s Ferris Wheel” in Gorky Park and the “Kacheliks” in Chelyuskintsev Park are in the process of restoration. After completing repair work and obtaining positive expert assessments, they will be able to return to operation. The situation is entirely different for “Ladya” and “Super-8.” These attractions have exhausted their safe operating resource and are subject to mandatory disposal. Their era in the history of Minsk’s parks comes to an end forever.

Control system: how safety is checked

The procedure for admitting attractions to operation includes several stages. Each device undergoes a technical inspection, and equipment that has reached its designated service life is subjected to additional technical diagnostics. Strength tests are particularly stringent. Attractions are tested not only with nominal load but also with a load exceeding the calculated one by 10 percent. Only after receiving positive results from all tests is a conclusion issued confirming compliance with the requirements of Belarusian legislation in the field of industrial safety.

Risk classification: why some attractions are checked more strictly than others

Not all entertainment devices are subject to state supervision, only those that pose increased danger. The classification system is based on assessing biomechanical risk. Attractions in category RB-1 are characterized by a high degree of potential risk. These include devices that lift people to a height of more than 8 meters or accelerate them to a speed of over 20 meters per second. Category RB-2 includes attractions with a medium degree of risk: lifting to a height from 2 to 8 meters and acceleration to a speed from 10 to 20 meters per second. It is these two categories that require mandatory registration with Gospromnadzor and regular inspections.

Renovation prospects: what will replace them

Despite the losses, the development of park entertainment in Minsk does not stop. Last year, the outdated “Swans” in Chelyuskintsev Park and the “Waltz” in Gorky Park were decommissioned, but modern analogues replaced them. Plans for the current year include the installation of new attractions. In Gorky Park, “Dragons” and “Fire Brigade” are expected to appear, and Chelyuskintsev Park plans to open the “Mix” attraction. These new entertainments should compensate for the loss of old facilities and offer visitors a modern level of comfort and safety.

Nationwide context

The situation in Minsk reflects overall trends in the entertainment sector across Belarus. There are 175 attractions of various types operating in the country, including 136 mechanized devices and 39 water slides. More than 50 of them are concentrated in the capital, highlighting Minsk’s significance as a center of the entertainment industry.

Conclusions: safety above all

The closure of some attractions in Minsk’s parks demonstrates the priority of safety over commercial interests. The new rules limiting the service life of entertainment equipment are aimed at preventing accidents and protecting visitors’ lives. Although parting with legendary attractions evokes nostalgia among many residents, replacing outdated equipment with modern analogues opens up new opportunities for the development of the entertainment industry. Future generations will be able to enjoy safer and more technologically advanced attractions that meet modern standards of quality and safety.