Main Botanic Garden of Almaty Will Be Closed for 4 Months

Currently, the reconstruction measures planned and agreed with general public have been started; all required permits for excavation and engineering activities have been received. So, road works (pavement, laying the network of walking paths, covering of ecological paths, laying the granite blocks) are performed, construction of entrance pavilions (preparation of construction pit, concreting operations) has been started; the engineering activities for creation of sprinkler and irrigation system (laying the irrigation ditches), electrical network wiring layout and assembly of the lighting and video monitoring systems are in progress in the territory of the Garden. Excavation operations are performed in the zones of reconstruction with engagement of large size and heavy construction machinery. Such conditions in the garden territory may be unsafe for visitors, especially for children, taking into account the increase of children groups in the period of summer holidays.
Gulnara Sitpayeva, General Director of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction commented her decision to permanently close the Botanic Garden for visitors, “Citizens and guests of Almaty city like to walk in the Garden, many of them come with children. Unfortunately, due to the performed activities, it will be unsafe. Therefore, on behalf of the administration of the Botanic Garden, I make an apology for temporary closing; we have to make this decision for safe reasons”.
“At the initial stage of the project we hoped that it will be possible not to close the Garden for visitors during the whole reconstruction period; however, after consultations with the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction and assessment of all risks, we have understood that it is impossible to guarantee comfort and safety of visitors in the Garden territory in the current conditions. It is also impossible to fence the reconstruction zone so that to exclude possible harm to health. Of course, children groups are of particular concern. Therefore, in order to avoid possible accidents, it was decided to close the Garden for the period of intensive operations from July 1 to November 1. We apologize to the residents and guests of Almaty city for the temporary restrictions and hope for understanding,” Marat Aitmagambetov, Director of the Bulat Utemuratov’s Foundation, commented.
At the same time, the initiators keep openness and transparency of reconstruction operations and continue to regularly inform the general public about the progress. The Bulat Utemuratov’s Foundation announces selection of volunteers from among the active citizens in the public control group that will periodically check the progress of reconstruction; it is also planned to engage the Public Council at the Akimat of Almaty city. Those who wish to be included in the public control group may send an application by e-mail to: botsad.volonter@utemuratovfund.org.
Concerned persons may look after the status of current operations in social networks, at the pages of the reconstruction project in Facebook and Instagram.
Reconstruction of the main Botanic Garden in Almaty was started in 2018. Initiator of the project was the Bulat Utemuratov’s Foundation on request of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction with the support of the Akimat of Almaty city. Main goal of the project is to provide easy access and comfortable staying in the Garden for residents and guests of the megapolis, show achievements of the Kazakhstan scientists in the field of dendrology, botany and phytointroduction. Main principles of the charitable project is careful reclamation of green oasis of the city in accordance with the original plans of its laying in 1932 and taking into account the best samples of design of the world botanic gardens.