From the history
The territory on which the park is located once belonged to a wealthy local landowner, Prince Kurakin. Near the princely house a garden was laid out and a pond was dug, which has survived to this day. In the 19th century, the house became the property of the Moscow businessman Lianozov. Later, the garden located here began to be called Lianozovsky.
During Soviet times, the park was popular. People came here to relax after a working day. Here you could not only admire the green landscapes, but also ride the rides or dance to live music. Various celebrations and celebrations were regularly held in the park; it was a kind of center of public life. But at some point the territory fell into disrepair.
Formation of Goncharovsky Park
Uncleaned old paths, lawns overgrown with weeds, old Soviet-era attractions - this is exactly what the branch of Lianozovsky Park in the Butyrsky district looked like at the beginning of the two thousandth. Local residents did not often go to the park, usually turning here only when necessary. Many didn’t even know the name of this small square.
Everything changed in 2013, when Moscow authorities turned their attention to the territory. It was decided to carry out a large-scale reconstruction. The design of the new park was undertaken by the Meganom bureau. First, they created a project that meets all modern realities, and then successfully brought it to life.
It is noteworthy that the process of reconstruction of the park was short-lived: it was closed at the end of spring, and the opening took place on the first of September. The renewed territory also received a new name. He was chosen by popular vote from a variety of options. This is how Goncharovsky Park appeared in Moscow.
Local history of North-East Administrative District
The name “Goncharovsky Park” appeared on the map of Moscow quite recently. We can say that the residents themselves decided what the name of the square where they used to walk would be. In 2013 it was reconstructed. And in October of the same year, after the official opening, on the initiative of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a vote was held on the portal of the Department of Culture. There were several names to choose from: “Park on Rustaveli”, “Butyrsky Farm”, “Open Park”, “Writers’ Park”... But 32% voted for “Goncharovsky Park”.
Previously, this square between Goncharova and Rustaveli streets was called Leninsky, since on November 5, 1968, a monument to the leader of the world proletariat was erected there. The background is as follows: on October 22, 1921, on the Butyrsky farm, present-day Rustaveli Street, the first Soviet electric plow was tested. Among the guests was V.I. Lenin. It was on his order that the People’s Commissariat of Agriculture even established an Extraordinary Commission for the production of electric arable tools “Electroplow”. He also controlled the fulfillment of orders for electric plows, contacted manufacturing plants, which he obliged to telephone the Council of People's Commissars on a weekly basis. Even a Regulation “on the electric plow” appeared: “In connection with the decline in horse and oxen traction, in order to alleviate the food crisis, by switching to cultivating the land with the help of electric power, a Temporary Emergency Commission for the production of electric arable tools is being established in Moscow under the People's Commissariat of Agriculture, tasks which are recognized as shock-combat and military-urgent."
Finally, on August 25, 1921, the first electric plow was released. This was the “Moment” of Petrograd engineers I.V. Karmazin and V.V. Kochukov, previously selected by the competition commission. The first tests took place in early September at the Shusharskaya farm near Petrograd. To demonstrate the capabilities of the new technology to V.I. Lenin, the electric plow was delivered to Moscow. To carry out experimental plowing, three fields were prepared on the Butyrsky farm - on the site where Goncharovsky Park is now located.
“Agricultural Life,” the printed organ of the People’s Commissariat of Agriculture and the Central Committee of All-Russian Land Works, wrote the following about this: “On Saturday, October 22, a solemn demonstration of plowing with the help of a high-power electric plow took place at the Butyrsky farm, which is the first of a series of such plows being built by order of the Council Labor and Defense at Russian factories. The trial of the first plow attracted general attention and participation from a wide range of people. Present at the tests were: Comrades Lenin, Kalinin, representatives of the Comintern, the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party, press leaders, representatives of scientific and technical institutions […]
The first tests of the electric plow were successful. From them, however, it is still impossible to judge the efficiency, ease of use and other essential data regarding such plows. Only the subsequent period of the most careful study of their work can provide a comprehensive coverage of their properties and a conclusion about their vitality.”
In 1988, in addition to the Lenin monument, a granite composition representing a furrow was installed in the park. In the 90s, the copper Ilyich was demolished. There is also practically nothing left of the composition, only a memorial stone on which you can read that “On October 21, 1921, V.I. Lenin was present at the testing of the first Soviet electric plow on the Butyrsky farm in the educational and experimental farm of the Moscow Higher Zootechnical Institute.” And no information about the engineers who created this unit.
But new times mean new objects in the current Goncharovsky Park. On March 8, 2014, the “Tree of Men’s Promises” grew. Under this tree, men make promises to their lovers and write them on paper. These receipts are placed in the promise accelerator. It is possible to return the “document” only when “evidence” of the fulfillment of the promise—photos—is posted in the park’s official groups on social networks.
By the way, a summer reading room opened in Goncharovsky Park, again in 2014. Thus, the “literary” name of this branch of Lianozovsky Park was justified in practice.
Yulia Belous
List of used electronic resources:
- https://www.zbulvar.ru/news/detail.php?ID=144006&sphrase_id=53046
- https://www.zbulvar.ru/news/detail.php?ID=82427&sphrase_id=53046
- https://www.zbulvar.ru/news/detail.php?ID=81119&sphrase_id=53046
- https://www.zbulvar.ru/news/detail.php?ID=84010&sphrase_id=53046
- https://www.liapark.ru/goncharovo/gon/
- https://www.the-village.ru/village/city/public-space/134221-park
- https://www.osd.ru/objinf.asp?ob=1676
- https://istmat.info/node/35256
- https://um.mos.ru/contests/monuments/works/14377/
- https://250-1986.moy.su/publ/1-1-0-8
- https://www.agios-nicolos.ru/index.php/articles1/45-2012-05-13-17-35-59/155-2013-01-01-13-49-23
Yulia Belous
Bibliographic department
"Centralized library system of North-East Administrative District"
Reconstruction plan
The main goal of the improvement was to create a comfortable green area where everyone will find something to do. Goncharovsky Park was supposed to separate the residential area from the industrial zone. The fact that this territory was once recognized as a monument of landscape art complicated the situation. During the reconstruction process, it was necessary to make the park more interesting and lively, while keeping all existing objects unchanged.
A lot has been done. The usual fence was replaced with a granite bench with a wooden seating insert. The unusual kilometer-long bench eventually became the hallmark of the park. In the evening it is additionally illuminated. Single benches have also appeared for those who value personal space. Wooden beds were placed in front of the park's pond.
Not a single tree was damaged during the reconstruction of the park. The lawns were restored, several new shrubs were planted, and flower beds were created. Goncharovsky Park is the main corner of nature in the area. Therefore, it was important not only to improve the park, but also to preserve green spaces.
After reconstruction, the dance floor, chess club and boat station found new life. New wooden pavilions appeared in the park. They housed cafes. After the appearance of the stage, it became possible to again hold holidays and other entertainment events in Goncharovsky Park.
The park has created a beach recreation area on the shore of a pond, a field for playing petanque, a separate modern children's playground, and the opportunity to play volleyball. One sports ground in the park is used year-round: in the summer they play football on it, and in the winter there is an outdoor skating rink in the same place.
During the reconstruction, unnecessary buildings were hidden under pavilions or hidden behind mirrored walls. In total, more than thirty new objects were installed in the park. Now it has everything you need for leisure and sports. In the central part of the park there is even Wi-Fi and a green office area with sockets for working in the fresh air.
All zones of the park are visually interconnected. From any point you can see other objects located here. In this way, the creators intended to protect the territory from uninvited and unpleasant guests.
The paths in the park were paved, and separate areas for cycling appeared. Everything was designed so that cyclists do not interfere with the rest of pedestrians or collide with them.
Events in Goncharovsky Park
Every year, cultural events and state and national holidays are celebrated on the territory of the park. Regular classes are held here: yoga, Nordic walking, dance master classes, table tennis, floorball, fitness, general physical training, chess, retro dancing. The schedule of classes in Goncharovsky Park can be found on the official website.
For entertainment, the park has attractions that operate daily in winter and summer. A new area for skateboarding and BMX training has been opened on site. A new 5D cinema has been installed in the park. There is an area with extreme trampolines nearby. There is a boat station near the pond in Goncharovsky Park. Here you can rent boats and take a ride along the coast.
Official VKontakte group of Goncharovsky Park, © Svetlana Gudezh
Not only entertainment events take place in the park. As part of the Healthy Moscow project, a free medical examination is organized for everyone in Goncharovsky Park.
As part of another social project, “Let’s Go Home,” a photo exhibition opened in Goncharovsky Park. The goal of this project is to help animals find a new family. Another photo project, which was organized in this park, is aimed at supporting children and adolescents with Down syndrome.
Goncharovsky Park annually hosts Youth Day: live music, interactive with presenters, competitions and entertainment for all ages. During national and state holiday celebrations, the park is especially crowded.
Official VKontakte group of Goncharovsky Park, © Svetlana Gudezh
Park today
The reconstructed park has truly become a kind of center of public life. About four years have passed since the project was implemented, and the park still looks very modern. It has new lighting installed, everything is done for the comfort of visitors.
This improvement provided residents of the local area with a comfortable green area within walking distance from their place of residence. The creators of the project tried to make the park as modern as possible and unlike other squares in Moscow. Because each object is special and deserves a special approach.
Local residents recommend tourists to visit this place. The branch of Lianozovsky Park deserves attention, along with the famous park of culture and recreation named after. Gorky.
Children's playground lighting
The District Administration received many requests from residents about poor lighting in playgrounds. But the park is not under the jurisdiction of local authorities; you need to contact the administration of Lianozovsky Park. At the current date, the administration is working to conclude an agreement to develop a project for installing additional lighting poles on the territory of Goncharovsky Park. This project provides lighting for children's and sports grounds. To implement the project, it is planned to submit an application for targeted funding for 2019-2020.
