Uzbekistan Proposes Parks on Former State Facility Sites

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan's National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change has published for public consultation a draft Cabinet of Ministers resolution proposing the creation of public green parks on land vacated after the relocation of selected government institutions and enterprises.

The draft applies to land previously occupied by schools, academic lyceums, technical colleges, higher education institutions, polyclinics, hospitals and other medical facilities, as well as enterprises classified in environmental impact categories I and II.

Under the proposal, once such facilities are relocated, the land, buildings and structures would undergo an inventory and assessment to determine their suitability for conversion into public parks. The evaluation would take into account the urban planning, environmental and social significance of each site.

Suitable sites would be redeveloped into public green parks with walking areas, children's playgrounds, sports facilities and other public spaces. Land designated for this purpose would be transferred free of charge to the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and its use for other purposes would be prohibited after the transfer.

The draft also proposes banning the construction of apartment buildings, large retail and service complexes, administrative buildings, industrial facilities and other structures that could reduce green space within future parks. Car parks would be permitted only where предусмотрed in the park's master plan.

The document stipulates that public parks must remain open and free of charge. Project plans would include walking paths, children's and sports facilities, lighting and security systems, sanitation infrastructure, accessibility features for people with disabilities, and irrigation systems.

The draft also calls for inspections of buildings and structures located on the vacated sites. Demolition of unsafe or unusable buildings would be permitted only after legal, technical, environmental and urban planning assessments.

To develop and maintain the parks, the government proposes engaging private businesses through open tenders. Land plots would be leased to investors or provided under public-private partnership mechanisms.

According to the draft resolution, the work would be financed through local budgets, environmental funds, the Yashil Makon programme, private investors, and grants from international financial institutions and foreign organizations.