Children’s Ecological Park

Opened in April 2012

The first of its kind in Uzbekistan, the Ecopark is a project based on the concept of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. It was built by Fund Forum with support from Mitsubishi Corporation and has found good use for old car tires, plastic bottles and metal pipes in line with the principles of an ecology park.

The Ecopark grew out of an initiative put forth in February 2010 by Gulnara Karimova, the Chairperson of Fund Forum’s Board of Trustees, of building a new-format children’s park in Uzbekistan with the use of ecologically pure and reclaimed materials, unconventional architectural solutions and stylized design. Work on the plan of the park involved members of IJOD Association of Artists, Art Historians and Craftsmen, young Uzbek architects, sculptors and designers who had emerged as winners at Fund Forum’s art competitions.

It includes an area for skateboarders, rollerbladers and cyclists; a playground with various installations; and an art space where both children and adults can learn skills in drawing and applied art.

Visitors to the Ecopark, admission to which is free, will find many trees and green meadows as well as several sizeable ceramic works (jugs, figures) and original installations.

The Ecopark is a unique place for people to research new ways of caring for the places where they live and work while engaging in leisure activities. The opening ceremony for the Ecopark included a “Plant a Tree” event during which 60 lilac saplings were planted along an alley by a group of musicians, film stars, doctors, athletes and children. The park may also play host to various events such as competitions, charity and sporting events and games.