A public park revitalization project in Russia’s Far East has been severely compromised after a contractor, hired for maintenance, mowed down the majority of newly planted tree saplings along with the grass. The incident occurred in a park on the Avacha River embankment in the town of Yelizovo, Kamchatka, a region renowned for its pristine natural landscapes.
Activists from the All-Russia People’s Front, a national pro-government watchdog group, discovered the damage during a routine inspection. They reported that surviving birch, willow, and juniper saplings had sustained deep wounds to their fragile trunks from the trimmer line, making it unlikely they will survive the harsh winter. Fir trees, which were recently showing new growth, are already turning yellow and shedding their needles, signaling their demise.
In response to the public outcry, the Yelizovo city administration has acknowledged the problem. Officials have pledged that the contractor responsible for the destruction will be required to replace all the lost and damaged greenery at their own expense. This incident, however, highlights a recurring pattern of mismanagement in the park’s development.
This is the second time the greening effort has failed. The current batch of saplings was planted in May to replace a previous set that had been planted during a park renovation last year but failed to survive the winter. The repeated failures have led to public frustration and questions about the procurement process for public works.
The activists argue that this incident underscores a systemic issue. They are calling for public landscaping and maintenance contracts to be awarded only to competent organizations with proven expertise. Furthermore, they have suggested that the region is in dire need of a dedicated specialist to oversee such projects, ensuring that public funds for environmental improvements are not squandered through negligence and incompetence.