A barrier-free square is to be created near Bessarabka in Kyiv
This was announced by the Kyiv City State Administration.
The project involves developing the site in accordance with modern urban environment standards and accessibility principles. It will be implemented with the participation of patrons, including the Ukrainian pharmaceutical company Farmak.
The city administration noted that following the removal of the Lenin monument in 2013, this part of central Kyiv remained inaccessible to some pedestrians for a long time.
New space near the Bessarabsky Market
Currently, the square in front of Bessarabsky Market does not function as a fully-fledged public space and does not meet accessibility standards. The only way to cross the road there is via an underpass, which is inaccessible to people in wheelchairs, parents with pushchairs and other groups.
As part of the project, plans include landscaping, benches, lighting, accessible pathways and a symbolic fountain. The Kyiv City State Administration noted that fountains traditionally hold a special place in Kyiv’s architecture: over a century ago, Termen’s cast-iron fountains were installed in the city’s parks, and they later became an integral part of the capital’s historic environment.
A similar element of modern urban design has already appeared on Volodymyrska Hill, and the same is planned for this space.
Once renovated, the square is set to become a convenient space for both daily commuting and leisure for Kyiv residents and visitors to the city. The project was agreed and approved in several stages, and the Kyiv City State Administration’s competition commission for attracting investors supported the use of extra-budgetary funds for its implementation.
Currently, the municipal corporation “Kyivavtodor” has already begun procurement via the Prozorro electronic system. Work is scheduled to be completed next year.
As a reminder, Kyiv is preparing to review public transport fares — the Departments of Economy and Transport have been tasked with preparing the relevant calculations.
