Information about the project emerged in mid-January, and soon residents and environmentalists expressed their dissatisfaction. In their opinion, football fields should be built in other parts of the city, as the Botanical Garden is intended for the preservation and study of vegetation. Comparisons were made on social media with the Botanical Garden in Almaty, where the primary scientific and recreational functions of the park were preserved after reconstruction. A petition against the project was initiated, gathering over 2,000 signatures.
“Football fields will not be able to ensure clean air and coolness in the heat, as the shady alleys of the garden do. This decision threatens the years of work by scientists and ecologists to preserve biodiversity,” the petition stated.
Reasons for the Residents' Protest
Local residents actively shared their opinions on social media:“The Botanical Garden is not intended for entertainment; it was created for science and the preservation of plants. It houses unique collections, not just green spaces.”
“Migratory birds choose the Botanical Garden, not ordinary parks. Now there is a risk of their disappearance, and insects may flood the area. Why do we need an amphitheater and workout zones without proper ecology?”
“The Botanical Garden is the lungs of Bishkek. It participates in the natural circulation of air and helps combat smog. The destruction of green spaces will negatively affect air quality for hundreds of thousands of residents.”
Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Dastan Bekeshev also expressed his position against the construction. At the meeting, he emphasized that the Botanical Garden was created for science and the preservation of vegetation, not for football fields.
“In other countries, they preserve and develop vegetation. Here, they decided to build football fields! What biodiversity are we talking about? I support the development of football, but no athlete has asked for a field to be built in the Botanical Garden. We need to separate football from the garden. The Botanical Garden is important not only for Bishkek but for the entire country. People go there to relax, not to play football. There are other places for that. I urge the president to pay attention to the situation. Football is not needed in the Botanical Garden!” he stated on January 14.
Opinion of the Botanical Garden Representatives
In an interview with "Birinchi Radio," the deputy director of the Botanical Garden, Nurbek Albanov, explained that the mini-football fields will be located on a plot that has not been used for planting for 20-30 years due to the large number of stones.“We are building mini-football fields, not a large arena. The area of the two fields will be no more than 16 acres; this is a small territory. Scientific work in the garden will continue, and the decision to build was made jointly with the president and the National Academy of Sciences,” he noted.
Construction Completion Timeline
The president's press secretary, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, also commented on the situation, reminding that the garden was previously in a neglected state: trees were dying, predatory animals inhabited the area, and there were violations of law in the evenings. Currently, the Botanical Garden is undergoing active improvement.“Taking into account the wishes of the residents, a sports facility is being built on the rocky territory where no trees grow. It will be used by the youth, and the funds from its operation will go towards the needs of the garden. All work is planned to be completed by summer, and then the results can be assessed. I believe it is inappropriate to express criticism before the completion of construction,” he added.
Thus, the construction of the mini-football fields continues.
