Rainbow Park in Veshnyaki is a picturesque recreation area near ponds with developed infrastructure, landscaped territory, and paved paths for walking and cycling. In this park you can see amazingly beautiful lawns, alleys, and many coniferous and larch trees, which have a beneficial effect on the ecological situation of the capital.
Rainbow Park - a green area near ponds with beautiful scenery
Parks are a part of any settlement that performs an important function: they improve its appearance and have a beneficial effect on its atmosphere. One of such places in Veshnyaki of Moscow is Raduga Park.
Here you can leisurely spend an hour or two alone, or it is created as an organic part of the appearance of the area and, as a public space, can bring significant variety to the leisure time of those who live or visit here.
Fortress theater in Kuskovo
More than 200 years ago, the best serf theater in Russia was located here, founded by Count Pyotr Sheremetev. In the estate park in the 1760s, a stage with an orchestra pit, a count's box and an amphitheater that could accommodate almost a hundred spectators were built. The performances took place there. 20 years later, in the 1780s, his father’s work was continued by his son, Nikolai Sheremetev, who built a wooden three-tier theater in Kuskovo.
Gifted peasant children were selected from all Sheremetev estates. This is how the daughter of a blacksmith from the Yaroslavl province, Praskovya, came to the theater and later became Countess Sheremeteva. The girl was taught French and Italian, musical notation, playing the harp, harpsichord and guitar, and the best teachers taught her singing, dancing and acting. She made her debut on stage at the age of 11, receiving the “precious” pseudonym Zhemchugova, according to the tradition established for serf actors.
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Within a few years, she became a theater prima, and her talent and beauty struck the young count, and their romance lasted almost 17 years. Sheremetev gave freedom to his beloved and her relatives, and then married her. But her death two years after the birth of her son Dmitry put an end to the history of the Sheremetev theater. In 1799, Kuskovo was deserted. The theater was sealed, the actors moved to the Ostankino estate.
Partly thanks to Praskovya, the famous Sklif appeared in Moscow - at the request of his beloved wife, Count Sheremetev donated a large sum for the construction of a hospice house on Sukharevka “for the care of the orphaned, old and infirm.” Now it houses the Research Institute of Emergency Medicine named after N.V. Sklifosovsky is a place where lives are saved.
During the Great Patriotic War, the Kuskovo museum-estate housed the barracks of the cadets of the world's first women's sniper school, where Hero of the Soviet Union Aliya Moldagulova studied - one of the streets in Veshnyaki was named after her.
Why is there Sniperskaya Street and Moldagulova Street in Veshnyaki, and Lobachika Street in Sokolniki?
History of creation
The park got its name from the location of a cascade of ponds in the shape of an arc on its territory, which is clearly visible from a great height. Bolshoi Grafsky and Italian ponds with an area of 5.4 and 1.1 hectares, respectively, are separated by a dam-bridge.
The Great Count's Pond appeared back in 1750. The ponds are recharged using groundwater and surface water; there is no artificial recharge.
Near the pond, on the side of Veshnyakovskaya Street, there is a paved area and an open amphitheater. There is a pedestrian dam-bridge on the pond.
In the eastern part there is a memorial flowerbed-monument, which has a round shape, in memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War. Against the background of a five-pointed star are the dates of the war: 1941–1945.
There are several monuments and interesting places in Rainbow Park. This is a memorial stone laid in May 2005 on the “Alley of Veterans” in honor of the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.
Residents of Veshnyaki laid another memorial stone on April 26, 2011, dedicated to the “Liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.”
There is such a wonderful recreation area with a pond in the Veshnyaki area. The city administration monitors the condition of the nature and infrastructure of the Rainbow.
Revival of the estate
What is happening in Kuskovo now? Since 2021, a comprehensive restoration of the estate has been underway - the largest in its history. A huge amount of work has been done: the facades of the main house (an 18th-century palace), the forge, the drying shed and the carriage house with a 19th-century fence are being restored, as well as the facades of the Italian and Dutch houses, and work in the grotto is being completed. And in the unique park - the only example of a French park in Moscow - 50 sculptures and busts of the late 17th - early 18th centuries that decorated the park alley are now being restored.
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“This is a titanic work,” commented Sergei Avdonin, director of the Kuskovo estate museum. — For centuries, the sculptures stood in the open air - in the rain, snow, wind, sun, experiencing the effects of temperature changes and the human factor - some of them simply had parts broken off. And during the Great Patriotic War, sculptures were prepared for evacuation: they were then removed from their pedestals and hidden, and some were buried. And now, during restoration, it was discovered that some of them were inhabited by 24–28 species of microorganisms, and there were losses and weathering. All this had to be cleared, washed, removed.”
Improvement work is being carried out throughout the park. As Sergei Avdonin said, the road and path network will be updated, new benches and additional toilets will appear, and a mother and child room will be open.
“At the entrance areas there will be cash register pavilions, a cafe will appear, and an excursion department and a souvenir shop will move to the main entrance. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the park. It is planned to complete the restoration this year, and I recommend looking at everything at once: to see with your own eyes how Kuskovo was restored, you will need a day, the excursion will take about five hours. But it’s worth it,” added the director of the estate museum.
Raduga Park: football club and training ground
The park near the Rainbow ponds has always been a favorite training place for amateur athletes from all over Veshnyaki. And after the reconstruction and improvement, everyone here became more comfortable.
In 2021, the park resurfaced the football field, installed a tennis court with artificial grass and a workout area, renovated the amphitheater and hockey rink, and installed new trash cans and park sofas. In 2017, trees were planted to replace those lost after the hurricane, paving stones were repaired and the surface of the children's and sports fields were renewed. And in 2021, the toilets were overhauled and the rubber surface on the tennis court was renewed.
Now there is everything for sports and recreation: walking, cycling and running paths, a boxing ring with locker rooms, classes are held according to the Moscow Longevity program (Nordic walking, dancing, general physical training, gymnastics). There is a rental center and three playgrounds here. In winter, an ice skating rink is built and a ski slope is built.
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A special feature of the park is a training ground with variable load levels. If desired, it can become an alternative (and free) to a fitness club for lovers of strength training. Outdoor space is extremely in demand.
The same is with the football field - training takes place non-stop from 10:00 to 22:00, there is a place for both beginners and professional players, tournaments are held for preschoolers and adults. If previously they played football in the park from time to time, now there is a full-fledged football club with a modern field, locker rooms and free training. Information is on the park website.
Nature and infrastructure of the park
The area of "Rainbow" is 20.2 hectares. The park has numerous walking and cycling paths, and there is also a running track with a special surface.
In winter, a ski slope is developed. In Rainbow Park you can see amazingly beautiful lawns, alleys, and many coniferous and larch trees.
Of particular interest to visitors is a large number of children's playgrounds, a football field with professional artificial turf, tennis courts, a volleyball court, gazebos, quiet recreation areas, a dog walking area and a variety stage. There is also a sports equipment rental service for park guests.
In the southwestern side there is the Italian Pond, which was formerly called the Small Count Pond. In the southeast there is the Big Count Pond. They are separated from each other by a dam - a bridge. Numerous “love locks” hang on its fences.
The ponds are home to fish; on its banks you can often see fishing enthusiasts, as well as area residents who come here to sunbathe or feed the ducks. Young people like to gather on its pier.
There is a pedestrian zone around the Great Count Pond with benches for relaxation. At night it is illuminated. Near the pond there are equipped recreation areas with gazebos where you can organize a picnic or barbecue. The area around the Italian Pond is not landscaped.
In the Rainbow Park there are well-groomed deciduous and coniferous trees and many beautiful flower beds. For outdoor recreation, Muscovites have built pedestrian paths and alleys, bicycle paths and a running track covered with a special compound.
There are three children's playgrounds, a mother and child room, an inflatable trampoline slide, a dog walking area and an amphitheater built of wood. Various cultural events are organized at this stage.
The park has a summer cinema where films are shown and various master classes are held. According to reviews from guests of the park, the area here is very clean and well-groomed, and there are not too many people, which appeals to lovers of a relaxing holiday in nature.
For lovers of active recreation, there are sports and training grounds, a football field with artificial turf, a sports box, basketball and volleyball courts, a chess house, tennis courts, and an ice skating rink, closed during the warm season.
In April 2011, during a citywide cleanup, more than 200 birch and spruce trees were planted in the park. Across the road, in the western part, there is another beautiful natural place of the capital - the Kuskovsky Forest Park, with the famous estate "Kuskovo" - the Sheremetev counts - located in it.
In the northeastern part of the park there is a temple built in honor of the holy righteous Alexy of Moscow (Mechev) in Veshnyaki, a parish house and a chapel.
For hungry guests of the Rainbow Park, there are several small cafes and a kiosk with street food on site. Visitors have the opportunity to use sports equipment, bicycles, and scooters, which can be rented at the rental office. Electric cars are available for rent for children.
Recreation area on Krasny Kazanets street: game “Ship” and sculpture “Milkmaid”
This year, another recreational place appeared in Veshnyaki - this is a site near the pond on Krasny Kazanets Street.
In 2015, the pond itself was reconstructed and cleaned, and since May 2019, workers have been landscaping the area. Now the recreation area is open: children play here and adults stroll.
Multi-colored tiles have been laid on the walking paths, new lanterns have been installed throughout the area, and spruce and juniper trees have been planted. A “Ship” play complex with three slides was erected on the playground, and a set of exercise equipment was installed on the sports ground. The decoration of the recreation area was the restored sculpture “Milkmaid”.
