Recreation facility unveiled in Usti Kamennogorsk
In the heart of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, a significant transformation is underway. The city's mayor, Almat Akyshov, has spearheaded an innovative project to convert the neglected space beneath the Irtysh Bridge into a vibrant and well-equipped leisure area.
The renovated leisure zone spans over 2,000 square meters and is now open and actively used by locals. It features a basketball court, an octagonal MMA ring, outdoor workout equipment, a skate zone, three ping-pong tables, a calisthenics area, a children's zone with modern play structures, changing rooms, bike racks, bleachers, and benches. The walls of the leisure zone are adorned with vibrant graffiti, adding a touch of colour and creativity.
The city administration considers the new bridge zone as an example of how previously unused urban space can be transformed into a comfortable, safe, and accessible public environment. The zone is under 24/7 video surveillance with eight cameras, ensuring the safety of its users. The mayor emphasized that any illegal activities in the zone should be reconsidered due to the surveillance.
The leisure zone is currently popular with youth and those who appreciate active recreation. In the future, the zone may host small businesses, with entrepreneurs able to participate in a tender to rent spaces for cafes or kiosks for three years. However, the rented spaces must adhere to sanitary and architectural norms, and selling random goods won't be allowed.
Mayor Akyshov has suggested implementing similar public spaces in other parts of the city. He expects that such zones will become attractions in each district, reducing the need for residents to travel to the city center for leisure activities.
Globally, transforming spaces under or around bridges into public leisure zones is a growing practice. Examples include the High Line in New York City, an elevated railway transformed into a park, and the Seoul Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project, which revitalized urban river and bridge areas into leisure zones. These projects typically focus on revitalizing urban fabric, promoting pedestrian access, and creating multi-use public spaces that enhance social interaction and wellbeing.
Despite a lack of specific search results detailing a case study of bridge transformation into a leisure zone in Ust-Kamenogorsk, this innovative project aligns with global urban design trends and offers a promising outlook for the city's future. For a comprehensive understanding of this project, local municipal planning documents or regional urban development publications from Kazakhstan would be necessary.
- This innovative project in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, involves the transformation of a neglected space beneath the Irtysh Bridge into a leisure area, which caters to various lifestyle preferences, offering facilities for basketball, mixed martial arts, outdoor workout equipment, and home-and-garden activities like skate zones and play structures.
- As the global trend of revitalizing urban spaces continues, the leisure zone beneath the Irtysh Bridge, with its sports facilities and emphasis on outdoor-living, can be compared to renowned projects like the High Line in New York City and the Seoul Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project.
- With the potential for small businesses to rent spaces for cafes or kiosks, the leisure zone under the Irtysh Bridge embodies a home-and-garden atmosphere, fostering not only physical activity but also social interaction, forming an integral part of the city's sports, lifestyle, and home-and-garden culture.
