The leader of the social democrats in the Bishkek City Council, Kadyrbek Atambaev, expressed his concerns on Facebook regarding the sudden demolition of the beloved "Asanbai" Park without a clear plan for its replacement. The park, which had been a green oasis for over a decade, was home to 992 trees, various attractions, and even a zoo, all created by the park's tenant.
Atambaev criticized the municipality for not renewing the tenant's contract and instead choosing to demolish the park. He questioned the decision to destroy the park entirely rather than improving it. The demolition process was accompanied by unjustified claims of safety violations by the city administration.
The municipality justified the demolition by announcing plans for a public-private partnership competition to attract an investor for park development. However, Atambaev highlighted discrepancies in the municipality's actions, such as purchasing dismantled attractions from another park.
Atambaev raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the municipality's actions, citing previous instances where promised projects were replaced with different developments. He emphasized the need for public involvement in decision-making processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The social democrat faction led by Atambaev vowed to push for a resolution in the City Council to prohibit construction on the "Asanbai" Park site and adjust its boundaries if proposed by the private partner in the public-private partnership. Atambaev concluded by urging preventive measures to address the illogical situation surrounding the park's demolition.
The fate of "Asanbai" Park in the new public-private partnership project remains uncertain, with details undisclosed to both council members and the public. The controversy surrounding the park's demolition raises questions about accountability and community involvement in urban development projects.
