Design proposals for Mammoth Park are presented: residents’ opinions are awaited

Design proposals for managing the territory of the Šeškinė slopes geomorphological reserve with accesses are presented to the public. The so-called Mammoth Park will lead you in the footsteps of the last ice age and offer a peaceful rest surrounded by nature. The installed pedestrian paths will connect the territory of the future Multipurpose Complex, the Šeškinė district with Šnipiškės, the central part of the city and, going further, the Old Town. If the coordination procedures of the project go smoothly, the management work is planned to start at the end of next year.

Presentation of project proposals and discussion with residents will take place remotely on May 14 at 5 p.m. You can find the login link here.

Before the meeting, it is suggested to get acquainted with the project proposals. Those who cannot attend the meeting can send their observations or suggestions by e-mail before the day of the meeting. by post in writing [email protected].

After summarizing the residents’ comments, the project will be considered by Vilnius city specialists. After the approval of the design proposals, a technical project will be prepared and the aim is to obtain a construction permit. Then the procurement of contract works would be announced. The implementation of the project will be carried out in stages. If the preparation and coordination of project documentation goes smoothly, the contract works could start in 2025. at the end

Vilnius municipality archive photo.

The project proposals of the geomorphological reserve of the slopes of Vilnius Šeškinės and its access area covering approximately 30 ha were prepared by UAB “Aplan” and MB “Bauland”. Choose the best idea for organizing the territory in 2021. a competition for the architectural idea of ​​the geomorphological reserve of Šeškinės shlāitai and its accesses was announced. It was won by MB “Bauland” with the idea “Mammoth Park”.

The territory of the Šeškinė slopes geomorphological reserve is associated with finds of mammoth bones, so it is likely that it was the place of residence of these extinct animals, and Vilnius is the only European capital located at the very edge of the last glaciation.

Vilnius municipality archive photo.

The relief of the reserve was gradually formed during the post-Egyptian period (12 thousand years), it is naturally integrated with the Šeškinė Oze and forms a geological monument. This reserve is the first object to receive international recognition – it was described by the scientists Sobolev and included in the encyclopedia “Britanica” at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1832, 79 mammoth bones, including about 40 teeth (mammoths changed them six times during their life) were already kept in the collection of Vilnius University. These finds of mammoth bones were collected by scientists and local residents on the coast of Neris, and a large part – at the foot and slopes of Šnipiškės and Šiškinė hills, which were then a suburb of Vilnius.

Vilnius municipality archive photo.

Mammoth Park will introduce visitors to the unique history of the formation of the relief of the capital of Lithuania and its features. There will be an educational Mammoth trail, a Mammoth lookout, a hanging bridge and a path raised above the valley, educational planting areas, Mammoth pastures – play and educational spaces between the upper terrace pitches, in the clearings between the trees.

The park will also have rest areas, benches, picnic tables, informal play areas with naturalistic play elements, a botanical garden, as well as a multifunctional museum of the development of the terrain, housed in ammunition warehouses, an “Ammunition” trail and a new bridge, visually and emotionally complementing the narrative of the educational park.

The park will be left with its natural natural environment, existing trees and natural habitats will be protected, and favorable conditions will be created for the establishment of new species. Zones will be distinguished in the park, from which visitors will be deliberately diverted by other routes, thus leaving space for wildlife. Areas of wild meadows are being restored in open areas, and invasive grass plants will be removed from them.

Vilnius municipality archive photo.