Tbilisi City Hall plans to relocate the zoo to the Tbilisi Sea territory at an accelerated pace, whilst a green space will be established at the existing zoo site, connecting it to Mziuri Park.

According to Georgian Dream’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze speaking at a presentation of planned environmental protection projects, the city desperately needs spaces similar to Dighomi Forest Park. Accordingly, the municipality will do everything necessary for its complete acquisition and rehabilitation.

“Dighomi Forest Park is a good example of the harmful practices of previous governments. Much of this territory had been alienated. We bought back part of it, though a portion remains in private ownership. We want to purchase it entirely and are conducting negotiations. The existence of such spaces in the city is fundamentally important. In this case, major intervention isn’t necessary since we’re talking about a forest park. We’ll do everything to return this territory to the city,” declared Kakha Kaladze.

Regarding priority environmental directions in the capital, Deputy Mayor Andria Basilaia noted during the presentation that every rehabilitated park or square is full of citizens, signalling that the municipality has the right approach to green spaces.

“We have radically changed the approach and attitude the capital had towards green spaces. The results are evident: every square or park in the capital that undergoes rehabilitation is full of citizens. This is an incentive and signal for us to keep environmental protection as one of our priority directions. We have ambitious plans for the next four years. We intend to continue rehabilitating parks and squares. In this direction, we plan to rehabilitate and establish up to 200 hectares of recreational space. Additionally, we’re carrying out numerous road works, islands, and strips, within which up to 350,000 various species of green plants will be planted,” declared Andria Basilaia.

According to him, one significant project to be implemented in the near future will be relocating the zoo to the Tbilisi Sea territory.

“The city has an old zoo, which we’ve begun relocating to the Tbilisi Sea territory. You’ll agree that today this zoo doesn’t meet modern requirements, neither for animals nor visitors. Accordingly, we’ve planned its accelerated relocation. As a result, we’ll receive a new space covering approximately 50 hectares. A recreational space will be established on the existing zoo territory, connecting to Mziuri Park. Consequently, we’ll have a unified park linking Vake and Saburtalo districts, totalling up to 25 hectares for this project,” declared Andria Basilaia.

Additionally, the deputy mayor named specific parks and squares that will undergo rehabilitation over the next four years.

“Rehabilitating parks and squares in the capital is very important. In this regard, I’ll highlight several projects, naturally, this isn’t a complete list of what’s planned for coming years.

I’ll start with rehabilitating the First Republic Garden. This project has already been procured; for the capital, this is a historic area.

Next will be establishing a park in Dighomi Wetlands. Sports and wellness facilities are planned for this territory. Furthermore, Rike Park will be rehabilitated. This is somewhat of a calling card for our capital. Countless tourists visit it. Now it’s completely worn out and we want to procure the appropriate project and rehabilitate it. Also planned: Avchala Park rehabilitation; Kakhidze Square rehabilitation; Artos Garden rehabilitation; Mushtaid Garden rehabilitation is important insofar as probably every generation of Tbilisians has rested there at least once.

Currently, it’s leased to private individuals. We want to reclaim it and conduct complete rehabilitation. Regarding Khudadov Forest Park, we began its rehabilitation in previous years, restored the main path, and want this trend to continue because we think this park has better potential. Dighomi Forest Park rehabilitation will be a significant project. For several years we’ve been conducting acquisition-exchange procedures; when completed, we’ll certainly rehabilitate it,” noted Andria Basilaia.