In Almaty, entrepreneurs have presented a project for a park zone along the approach to Medeu and a transportation hub aimed at alleviating traffic congestion to the ice rink and resort. This initiative is part of their efforts to improve their hometown. More details can be found in the article by Tengrinews.kz.
What project has been proposed for the approach to the "Medeu" ice rink?
The company Medeu Eco Park has unveiled a concept for creating a recreational park area near the former eco-post on the road to the high-altitude ice rink. The park will feature sports grounds and landscaping of areas that are currently underutilized. At present, this land is littered with garbage and overgrown with weeds.
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Photo provided by the project developers
The project also includes the construction of a transport corridor with the organization of three intercepting parking lots - a transport interchange hub (TPU). Such hubs are employed in cities like Tokyo, Moscow, and Paris, proving effective in relieving tourist routes from vehicular traffic.
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Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz / Alikhan Sariyev
"Today we are proposing the construction of a landscape park in the Medeu area. A lot is being done to develop Medeu; for instance, there are suggestions to extend the city’s terrenkur to the ice rink, improve the surrounding area, and make this place popular. However, transportation issues remain, as the road to Medeu takes a long time due to lengthy traffic jams, which adversely affects the ecology. The infrastructure of "Medeu" and "Shymbulak" was built for sports, skating, and skiing. There is no small infrastructure for children and the elderly. There is only a health staircase, and in general, the elderly and children have to walk along the roads, which is not particularly appealing to them. We want to create a public space for family recreation while simultaneously addressing transportation issues", said the project author, businessman Temirzhan Meyrambekov.
The project initiators emphasize that the park will belong to the city and will be the property of all Almaty residents.
What will the park look like and who is it intended for?
The project developers, Daria Kovalenko and Aydana Muratzhanova from Atlas Global KZ, explained that there needs to be accessible natural space for city dwellers between the city and Medeu. This could be a natural park with compact infrastructure, catering to people of all ages, with a family-oriented focus, considering modern standards for recreational spaces for both children and the elderly.
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Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz / Alikhan Sariyev
The total area of Medeu Park is expected to be 20.2 hectares. At its center, there will be the TPU, flanked by a natural park with a walking area and a zone for more active family outdoor activities. The food court is proposed to be integrated into the transport hub. Near the entrance, a visitor center is planned. Additionally, the park will feature a square for small events and trails for eco-tourism.
The park's zoning is planned along the river. A walking path is to be integrated into the terrenkur currently being constructed to Medeu.
3Sketch of the park by the project developers
The promenade along the river, according to the architects, will be elevated above the ground. It will be built from wooden decking. Benches, trash cans, and navigation signs containing information about the flora and fauna of the Medeu area will be placed along it. The lighting in the area is planned to be embedded in the railings, without lanterns or external fixtures.
4Sketch of the park by the project developers
Throughout the park, in addition to the promenade, a two-part walking area is planned - a pedestrian zone without tiles, featuring a unified monolithic surface made from waterproof materials, and a small buffer zone with a running track and a bike path. The running track can also be used for hiking and other types of active recreation.
5Sketch of the park by the project developers
At the hill, a viewpoint area is planned, preserving local plants - grasses and perennials. A sensory garden with plants in pots that visitors can touch and smell is also planned. Overall, the park area will be 92 percent greened. The authors aim to preserve many of the trees and meadow grasses that grow there.
6Sketch of the park by the project developers
Visitors will begin their acquaintance with the park from the visitor center located near the TPU. The central alley from the visitor center will serve as the park's axis, along which an event square for up to 1500 people, a pavilion for intimate cultural events, an amphitheater, and a creative community center will be situated.
7Sketch of the park by the project developers
On the opposite side of the TPU, a play hub and an active area will be established. The children's playground will be created using natural materials. It will feature a meadow for toddlers, an active play zone, an art installation titled "Blue Bird," a sloped play area, and an obstacle course.
The active zone will cater to the elderly and people with limited mobility. It will include exercise equipment for muscle training and fine motor skills. It will be accessible for wheelchair users. The surface is planned to be a soft material - wooden mulch.
What transportation issues exist at Medeu and how are they proposed to be solved?
According to data provided by the project developers, the average traffic flow toward Medeu on a busy winter weekend is 2800 people per hour. Next year, this is expected to rise to 3700 people. By 2027, a growth to 4200 people per hour is projected. This means that the volume of traffic will almost double in the coming years.
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Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz / Alikhan Sariyev
Currently, a peak-hour trip by private vehicle takes an average of 28 minutes. Next year, this will extend to 37 minutes, and by 2027, it will reach 42 minutes, most of which will be spent waiting in traffic.
A trip by public transport currently takes 52 minutes. By 2026, a bus trip will take over an hour, and by 2027, it will take 69 minutes. By 2029, the travel time is expected to increase to 75 minutes. The bus occupancy rate during peak times is already 76 percent and is expected to rise to 115 percent by 2027.
"The travel time by car and public transport will nearly double, leading to congestion and even overload. Buses will be packed, and drivers will spend up to half an hour searching for parking spots. We understand that radically widening the roadway is impossible, so the project focuses on public transport. To reduce the load on the single-lane section, we propose redistributing parking spaces from Medeu through a network of intercepting parking lots located further down. Parking areas need to be created along the entire corridor from Abay Square to Medeu, including near the square, the "Ritz Palace," "Agroselkhoz," and Medeu Park (near the former eco-post)," said Yan Pogutsa, a transport expert for the project and head of Future of Mobility.
These parking lots are proposed to be linked by public transport routes - express routes to Medeu, with stops at each "intercept," where drivers can leave their personal vehicles, and an eco-shuttle from Medeu Park to Shymbulak.
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Photo ©️ Tengrinews.kz / Alikhan Sariyev
Additionally, it is proposed to introduce tariff zones for parking along the corridor based on the principle of "the higher you go, the more expensive it gets."
"Our area will include parking for 700 vehicles. Essentially, our transport interchange hub should become a hub where comfortable transfers from cars to buses can take place. Furthermore, we want to include a charging station for electric buses integrated within the parking area. To prioritize public transport over personal vehicles and to ensure that cars and buses do not interfere with each other, we plan to create two new compact bridges - one for private vehicles leading to the lower level of the parking lot, and another above for public transport," added Yan Pogutsa.
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