In recent years, the process of updating the city's public spaces has intensified, but most of the time, new public spaces are only included in project proposals. We can count on the fingers of our hands how many public spaces have recently been renovated and how many projects have been started. It is a pity that the installation of most parks or squares ended in sharp disputes between the municipality and the communities. The management of public spaces has recently attracted a great deal of interest among the Lithuanian society and has received considerable attention in social networks, media and public space.
MadeinVilnius.lt decided to introduce the readers to the parks or squares that are planned to be renovated or newly equipped.
Japanese garden
In the spring of 2022, another space will appear in Vilnius where you can see what the Japanese garden tradition is. In the very center of the city, at the intersection of Lviv, Geležinis Vilkas and Linkmenų streets, the work of creating a Japanese garden has begun on a 5-hectare unused area. The garden is designed according to the concept developed by father and son Shiro Nakane and Yukihiro Nakane, famous Japanese landscape architects.
The project envisages the formation of garden terrain and greenery, the installation of footpaths and bridges, a gazebo and small architectural elements, waterfalls, cascades and fish pools. In addition, the lighting and children's playground will be fixed, so a total of 38 will be renovated. sq. m open space. There will be a parking lot next to the garden.
Vilnius Japanese garden. VšĮ "Vilniaus japoniskas sodas" (FB) illustration.
Reformed garden
Maintenance work on Reformati Square started two years ago. After the renovation, the historically important place for the Reformed community will get a new face, where the most important moments of past history will be reflected and properly commemorated, and all present-day Vilnius residents will also find their place in the shade of the trees. Renovation of the Reformed Garden is planned to be completed this year.
During the preparation of the reformation project of the Reformed garden, various aspects were evaluated: historical, urban, pedestrian communication system, greenery research, as well as the needs of potential garden visitors and aspects of heritage protection. It is taken into account that the reconstructed space would be maximally open to the needs of the citizens, but would have its own uniqueness, rooted in the historical context.
The square near St. Anne's Church
The municipality is going to Maironis and St. Mykolos street intersection, in front of St. Anna's church, to build a new square. It turned out that the installation of the square is planned to be completed by 2022. the end
During the construction of the square, all trees will be preserved." Efforts will be made to save as many trees as possible, but the specialists who have evaluated the trees will assess whether all of them are healthy and which can be saved.
Most of the parking spaces are planned to be eliminated. Thanks to this decision, it will be more convenient for tourists to stop and admire the ensemble of the Bernardine Monastery and St. Anna's Church. The square will be equipped with more places to sit.
Snipiškii square
In the Šnipiškii part, after removing the former garages on the 80-acre plot between Giedraičiai and Kintos streets, another project is being completed, which provides for the installation of the main space, nicknamed "Šnipiskii Square" by local residents. The newly created space is expected to become a central location for community events, as so far all events took place in the smaller "Dragon's Meadow". According to the authors of the project, part of the territory will be able to be used for exhibitions, fairs or other trade.
The territory is functionally organized in a circle, around a central space-square, at the entrances of which there are zones for various activities. In consultation with the local community and after adjusting the project according to the observations, small isolated green areas were abandoned and it was decided to combine them into larger, continuous meadows.
St. Florian Square
in New City Mortos st. on the site of the existing green area, a new public space is planned - a square on the theme of the activities of firefighters. The location of this square harmoniously connects with the neighborhood between Morta and Švitrigailos streets, Švitrigailos st. 18 of the Fire Protection and Rescue Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its territorial structural unit. In Lithuania, there is still no square or public space dedicated to firefighters. The square could perform an informative and educational function, introducing the work of firefighters. In commemoration of the patron saint of firefighters, St. On Florian's Day, May 4, celebrations, line-ups and swearing-in ceremonies of newly appointed officials could be organized.
Photo: Saulius Žuros 
St. Stephen's Square
The municipality is preparing to completely renovate the hitherto abandoned and unused, but unique and long-historical territory - near St. Stephen's Church square, as well as the reconstruction of St. Stefanos street by adapting it for pedestrians and cyclists. It is expected that the future square in this part of New Town, which did not have a green "island", will become a new attraction for residents.
In rebirth Stations district, a separate connection to the future square is also planned - at the moment, access from this area to the square is difficult due to the differences in terrain between the Railway and St. Stephen's streets, so it is planned to build a small pedestrian overpass over St. Steponas streets and thus connect the green area above with the railway area.
Perkunkiemi square
In a rapidly growing in Vilnius district there has been a lack of a leisure area for residents for a long time. There is a particular lack of not only active and passive recreation areas, but also spaces for children to spend time.
The space should be adapted for meaningful and high-quality recreation of residents. Emphasis will be placed on the employment of children and young people: the design proposals consider the installation of playgrounds, places to play football and basketball. There will also be places for passive recreation: residents will have a place to lie down under a tree, swing in a hammock or have lunch with the family at the picnic table.
The project proposals envisage dividing the square into functional zones for active, passive, community and individual recreation. At the request of the residents, in the southern part, circular traffic for bicycles, rollerblades or walks will be possible. Most of the paths will be paved with asphalt for smooth movement.
Sapiegi Park
Last fall, the municipal administration announced the long-awaited open international architectural design competition for the idea of managing Sapiegii Park and its accesses. Design services for the part of the territory of the Sapiegi residence, the Trinitarian monastery and the hospital building complex will be purchased through a tender.
Previously, they would like to fix the park by 2020. The Sapiegii Park improvement project has been presented to the public more than once, but the community strongly opposed it.
Taurus Mountain Park
The municipal company "Vilniaus planas" presented to the public project proposals for the improvement of the territory of Mount Tauro, which will be further adjusted taking into account both the comments heard and the project of the main "player" of this space - the future National Concert Hall.
In the territory of Tauros kalnos park, it is planned to install a multi-purpose activity space, recreation and observation deck, renovation of greenery, installation of small architecture (benches, trash cans, drinking water fountains, etc.), renovation of children's playgrounds and installation of new ones, reconstruction of sports fields, parking lots, installation of a pedestrian overpass over Tauro Street, installation and reconstruction of lighting, rainwater networks.
Photo: SĮ "Vilniaus planas" 
Photo: SĮ "Vilniaus planas" 
Photo: SĮ "Vilniaus planas" 
Photo: SĮ "Vilniaus planas"
Lutheran Garden
The territory of the old Lutheran cemetery complex between K. Kalinauska st. will be renovated soon. and V. Mykolaitis - Putino str.
During the implementation of the project, the environment between the Vilnius civil registry office and the Chamber of Trade Unions will be updated. Tracks will be renewed here, landscaping will be done, historical places will be marked, information signs will appear.
The territory of the Lutheran garden is planned to be transformed into a memorial-type quiet rest area, where visitors would be introduced to the past history of this place. Guided by geophysical, archaeological, historical and architectural research, the aim is to adjust the path network, highlight the contours of the former cemetery quarters, create a unified informational and visual system, organize greenery, lighting, and install small architectural elements.
Dragon Meadow
It is proposed to divide the territory of "Drakonii pivos" into zones. In the northern part, away from the street, an active zone will be formed with children's play, basketball and exercise fields. The southern part is for the entrances to the square and a small meadow. The eastern part under the old lime trees will become a quiet part of the square with benches and an old water pump as a characteristic element of the place.
Right behind the business complex "Burės", at the intersection of Giedraičiai and Krakuvas streets, there is a small meadow, called "Drakonii pieva" by the locals. This is the only public space in the wooden part of Šnipiškii, which serves for the contact of different social groups and joint creative activities of the residents of Šnipiškii. The existence of this place in the neighborhood is vitally important as an opportunity for the residents of the wooden part of Šnipiškai to maintain and improve the neighborhood's healthy social climate and safety.
Photo: Vilnius plan 
Photo: Vilnius plan 
Photo: Vilnius plan
Šeškinė slopes geomorphological reserve park
Vilnius city municipalities and in the task of the competition initiated by the Union of Lithuanian Architects, the goal was formed to properly organize the environment of the Šeškinės slaitai geomorphological reserve and its accesses. Two design proposals were submitted in the competition for the adaptation of the slopes of Šeškinė: "Mamuto Park" and "IUNCTIO".
The vision of "Mamuto" park is to acquaint visitors with the unique history of the formation of the Vilnius terrain and its features. The park would introduce the finds of mammoths, the edge of the Ice Age expansion and the expressive landforms of the Ice Age. The Mammoth Park would consist of: an educational Mammoth trail, a Mammoth lookout, Mammoth pastures (play and recreation areas, a botanical garden), a multifunctional terrain development museum housed in ammunition warehouses, an Ammunition trail and a new bridge that visually and emotionally complements the narrative of the educational park. ", the authors of the project proposals put forward the vision of the future park.
"The urban solution is developed based on connections - directions with other natural elements of the river valleys. The designed objects - the tower, lookout point, recreation and activity areas are oriented in the directions of the Swiss erosive outcrop, the Iskarti erosive hill, the Sapiegina erosive outcrop, the plain geomorphological reserve, Three Crosses Mountain, Gediminas Mountain, Tauros Mountain and Viršuliškii. One of the most important architectural elements is the restoration of the narrow-gauge railway, which was installed here to transport the ammunition in the bunkers," the tender proposals state.
Eduard Balsi Square
It is planned to reconstruct the Eduard Balsis square on the corner of Vytautas and A. Mickevičius streets. A reconstruction project has been prepared on the order of the Vilnius City Municipality, which proposes to overhaul the square, renew the paths, and install modern and accent lighting. The proposal also provides that the sculpture in the square will be moved, and the planned new terrace with an amphitheater and stage should become the main area of attraction for small events.
The lighting in the area of the square will also be reorganized: it is planned to dismantle the existing lights and cables. According to the prepared project of lighting solutions, four types of luminaires are to be installed.
Square of light
Vilnius city municipality presents how they plan to renovate the space in Rasai eldership – the green area between Pelesa and Liepkalnio streets, better known to residents as "Šviesos skveras".
For more than a year, the architects of the Vilnius plan have been working with the residents: workshops were organized for children, the functional scheme of the square was coordinated with the residents of the neighboring houses.
In the presented project proposal, we aim to create a cozy environment in the already formed very green, acacia-scented square frequented by local residents.
Little Lithuania Square
The main sources of inspiration for the square's architectural idea are the common natural features of Pilaita and Lesser Lithuania: sandy hills covered with pine forests mixed with birch and black alder - the Curonian Spit, the dunes of the Baltic coast; the shores of water bodies covered with sedges, swampy bays - the Curonian Lagoon; Willow meadows - Nemunas delta meadows, etc.
From other residential areas of the capital Pilaitte primarily differs in its geographical location: the residential area is located about 8 km from the city center, in an exceptional natural environment. This is one of the most picturesque areas of Vilnius: after a walk through the sandy pine forests, you can swim in the Gilužis and Salotė lakes, admire the banks of the flowing Sudervėlė (Sudervės) stream, see picturesque moraine hills pushed by glaciers, and pear trees washed by water.
Little Lithuania Square 
Little Lithuania Square 
Little Lithuania Square
Žirmūnai Square
At the corner of Žirmūnai and Kareivių streets, in an area of almost one hectare, a new square is planned to be built. Pedestrian paths, basketball court and greenery are expected to be renovated in the newly formed territory. In the square, it is planned to install a fitness area, a drinking water column, a path for children to learn to ride a bike, and install other facilities.
At the request of the residents, it is planned to renovate the existing basketball court and have more sports facilities, and it is also proposed to extend the existing path and thus create the possibility to abandon the stairs and install a larger sports area. Benches, trash cans, lamps (on the longitudinal path), chess (or picnic) tables, outdoor table tennis tables are provided next to the paths.
