The area surrounded by garages, worn-out walkways and apartment buildings near the intersection of Žirmūnai and Kareivių streets (Žirmūnų st. 111 B) will be reborn as a new entertainment and leisure square for Vilnius residents. A construction permit has been issued for the project. Construction work is planned to start in the spring of 2025.
In the existing territory, there are pedestrian paths in various conditions - most of them are quite worn out, distorted, the communication wells on the paths are standing up and forming obstacles, some of the stairs are hanging in the air, there is a lack of ramps in the territory.
In a large area, the variety of activities is small. The surface of the basketball court in the southern part is worn out. A children's playground has recently been installed in the northern part of the area, but there is a lack of facilities for teenagers. The parking lot does not have separate surfaces. Lighting that no longer meets today's needs is only in the upper part of the area.
After installing the square in the territory, the public space will be distinguished by upper and lower terraces located at different heights. The old cobblestones will be replaced by new concrete cobblestones with a non-slip surface, of various textures and shapes. Along the paths, there will be regular and higher benches suitable for older residents. In order to ensure convenient movement in the territory, the southern stairs are dismantled and replaced with a slightly longer path with a slope, thus connecting the upper and lower terraces.
The ramp connecting the lower and upper terrace will allow people with disabilities and parents with strollers to move comfortably in the square. At the top of this ramp, a mini observation deck will be designed - the highest point of the space, from which the most interesting place can be seen - an eight- or infinity-shaped three-meter-wide educational bicycle path to learn to ride a bicycle, and playgrounds for older people are designed in the holes of the infinity sign. The side of the ramp, which borders the educational bike path, will be decorated with a drawing (fresco) painted on the retaining wall.
The terrain of the newly created play spaces is shaped in such a way that moving along the path in the shape of an infinity symbol goes up, down and up again. Various passive recreation areas are planned on the slope in the area, which could become a place for community gatherings. A hammock complex, an amphitheater and benches-beds are also planned. An event box is planned next to the amphitheater.
A large sports area will be located in the west of the ramp. Instead of the current basketball court, a modern half basketball court with EPDM rubber covering and a nearby sports training area for both young and seniors will be installed.
Taking into account the formed terrain, a wall suitable for climbing is provided in the square. Bike racks will be installed in the square, and a place for drinking water will be provided.
The territory of the future square is characterized by an abundance of greenery. Out of the 266 inventoried trees on the territory, 14 will be removed - some of them are decayed (that is, completely dry, others restrict the growth of nearby vegetation or pose a threat to passers-by due to their condition). Spontaneous vegetation on the artificially formed slope and at the fence of the car park will also be cleared.
In order to make the managed area attractive, the terrain formed between the children's playground and the street will be intensively planted. Plant species with brighter shapes and colors are used, assessing seasonality, i.e. spring flowering, color range of autumn leaves, etc. Lithuanian climate and resistance to urbanized areas, undemanding growth conditions are also assessed. A total of 35 trees (linden, chestnut, maple, rowan) and 1020 bushes will be planted in the square.
Plants are planted next to the newly designed sports, games and recreation areas. In places, greenery is used as visual and sound barriers from the existing Kareivių Street. Tree root feeding wells will be installed to maintain the greenery of the new square. A drainage pipe with a geotextile filter is used to install the wells. In planted areas, mulch is poured under bushes and trees.
As many as 19 public spaces, from nature parks to small green spaces, are planned to be newly equipped or maintained in the capital this year. The vast majority of spaces will be managed in residential areas further from the center: In Pilaite, in Grigiškės, Naujininkai, Viršuliškės, Pašilaičiai, in New Vilnius, Lazdynas, Šeškinė, Karoliniškės. The maintenance of public spaces will also take place In the old town, in Šnipiškės, in New City, in the zoo. Attractive public spaces provide an opportunity for communities to come together and spend leisure time together, creating a general good aesthetic feeling in the city.
