Stark contrasts between old and new (These 2 pics taken in the 13th district, not far from Children's Park)
The UB Hilton
Children's Park
The wooden statues that once stood are now being removed...I wrote an email to the editor of the UB Post asking him to do some investigative reporting on what is going on with Children's Park. For those of you who don't know what Children's Park is, it was an amusement park built during the socialist period in the middle of downtown UB. I've heard (and this is just rumor) that some portions are privately owned and some are state controlled. In the last year a wall was erected so that you cannot see inside the park. When I was walking my friends dog, we went nearly every day to play in the park (sadly, we went in illegally. I say sadly because it's a beautiful public space that EVERYONE should be allow to use). It's one of the last tree filled spaces in UB!!! It looks to me like some buildings are going to be built on the corners of the park. Just last week, I noticed workmen taking apart the sidewalks inside the park. I hope they are renovating the park and not dismantling it to sell to private investors.
This is one of the last open spaces in the city and if it's developed Mongolians would be losing green space and a piece of culture. Last week I took a picture of the intricate wood sculptures that are being taking out of the ground. I think the wall around the park has blocked peoples vision so that they can't see what's happening. Hopefully whoever owns that poverty is thinking about the future and the environment. It could be a little "Central Park" in UB. Please feel free to comment if you know anything about the park.
10 comments:
We can see that park from our office window. You're right that it is a massive, attractive open space, which even in the dead times of autumn and spring is still very nice to look at.
I know about as much about the future of the place as you do, but today I can see a backhoe ripping up parts of the ground, and it looks like it may have already dug a trench of some sort, but again I don't really know.
If I had a vote here, I'd vote for keeping the park as an open public space. Every respectable city in the world has parks of some sort, and I don't want to hear anything about how "oh, it'd be too expensive," as it would be more than worth it in the long run, especially if the mining industry ever actually takes off like it has the potential to.
I doubt that person who's buying the Children's Park is thinking about environment and piece oif culture.
This is unbelievable! Where are we going to play in Children's holiday (Khuukhdiin Bayar)!
Ok, I never liked the monster house and stuff, but my siblings are definitely crying this June!
Natso, I'm so happy you found my blog! Please ask your family and friends in Mongolia if they know anything about Children's Park. Or tell them to walk by and see for themselves.
It would be such a shame to lose!
I remember the Monster House... almost as scary as all the incredible disemboweling paintings up in the rafters of the Choijin Lama Museum. It would be shame to see it get ploughed under. It brought colour to the city even under the grey dust of winter.
A+M+M+J
20 tugrugs says it's all gonna disappear. Won't be the first time either-- the Naadam archery field "somehow" got sold to the president's (or prime minister's?) father and is being built over. It's the Naadam Archery field, for goodness sake! What chance does the Children's Park have? :-(
YL:
Is that true?!!! If they sold the naadam archery field, then you're right, Children's Park has little chance. Hopefully people will begin to realize what's going on before it's too late.
Hello guys I have little bit different information about national leisure center (park). State administration decided to change managment on park which basicly means to sell it or turn investors into it. Now I know that japanese company named by "HITOCHU" investing it and probably it may be sold by the owners(but it should be property of citizens of mongolia and they need to realize it before everything going to END).
The latest news i have heard about re-construction in the children's park is the stadium as a replacement of those "old" stuff. I'm sure there are parts of this area have already been owned by mongolian politicians and MPs...
Poor UB people have been busily thinking of "right" candidates for the forthcoming election, which promises nothing, as far as I can see, and leaving such issues out of control...shame...
Very sad that the park is no longer the same park we used to go as a kid. Not the most attractive park but it's almost the only park in UB.
Wow, lots of good childhood memories in this park.... And now it's practically gone..... :*(
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