PARKS AND GARDENS

PARKS AND GARDENS, plots of land with natural vegetation or artificial plantings, alleys, water bodies, special facilities designed for walking, recreation, games, etc. The laying of the foundation of a park in Ufa was associated with the formation of the city as a centre of the guberniya. In 1883, in the place of the estate of merchant N.Blokhin, a city garden was set up (ref. Garden of Culture and Recreation named after S.Aksakov). In 1867. on the territory of Cathedral Square and on the initiative of the then Ufa Governor S.P.Ushakov, a city garden was set up which received the name of Ushakovsky (ref. Park named after V.I.Lenin); in the 1900s, Sluchevsky Park was created (now the Garden named after Salavat Yulayev). In 1903, on the initiative of the Ufa Police Chief G.G.Bukhartovsky, and on the site of the Park of People’s Sobriety, there was created a square for popular recreations (now Park named after I.S.Yakutov). In the 20s, in connection with the industrialization and growth of population, much attention in Ufa was paid to the development of the park and garden industry; and there were opened various recreation parks (Parks of Culture and Recreation, known by the Russian acronym PKiO). In 1947, there was created a city garden called Pobeda (Victory; since 1955 it was called just PkiO, since 1980 — PKiO of Petrochemists), in 1960, there was set up M.Gafury PKiO, in 1961, M.V.Kalinin PKiO (active until 1989), and, in 1991, Pervomaysky PKiO. In Ufa there are now PKiO Dyomsky (1950), Victory Park, and such parks as Volna (1976) and Kashkadan (2002). Such parks and gardens are in all cities as well as some raion centers and villages of the republic, the largest of them are in Ishimbay, Neftekamsk, Salavat and Sterlitamak.