Reformatų (Reformers’) Garden in Vilnius gets new life!

 

The Reformatų Garden in Pylimo Street (the very heart of the city) is about to get a new life. Today, the City of Vilnius has awarded a contract to UAB Eikos Statyba. The Reformatų Park is expected to become an attractive spot for recreation, cultural events and education, with the perfect combination between its cultural-historical heritage and the new contemporary small architecture. The Reformatų Garden has had to wait for its renovation for 35 long years.

“The Reformatų Garden is a great place linking the Old Town with the New Town (Naujamiestis) that was hitherto unfairly neglected is about to see a marked change. I am convinced that the Reformation Garden will be as successful as the Lukiškių Square after the renovation and will become a new attraction spot in Vilnius, drawing crowds of people for recreation and leisure”, said Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius.

The Garden will see renovated paths, arranged greenery, a new pergola wrapped in climbing hops, roses and clematis, a new water path, children playground featuring a trampoline, sidings and what is more – a water pomp, a net above the plant to lie down, etc. There will also be fountains in the Garden, as well as a seasonal outdoor cafe.

The Garden will have racks for parking bikes. The Garden will have a new lighting system, there will be new benches, bins, water drinking spots and toilets.

The renovation will be effected in two stages. The first stage will involve engineering, plumbing, sewage works and the installation of the watering system in about 28 thousand sq. m. During the construction, the Garden will be temporarily fenced.

There will be information stands telling the story of the Reformatų Garden. In the first half of the 17th century Evangelical reformers, who lived in the suburbs, built a cemetery in the northern part of the Garden. At that time, the park’s area was used as vegetable gardens by individuals, monasteries or religious communities, while the hill was a favourite spot for walking. “From this hill, you can see the magnificent view of the city and its surroundings, you can see the tower of each church as clearly as on your palm…”, said historian A. H. Kirkor speaking of this place in 1859. After the demolition of the city’s defence wall back in 19th century, the city saw a fast development, including also the formation of Pylimo Street. The greenery was formed in the then possessions of the reformers after the World War II. The current arrangement of the territory and the greenery was created in the 80s of the 20th century to fit the composition of the then monument for the communist leaders. The Garden has been left to its own devices for about 35 years, except the aesthetic formation of the greenery in 2013-2015.

The restoration of the Reformatų Garden is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It has been allocated EUR 1 722 211.03 from Structural Funds, EUR 202 613.06 – from the state budget and EUR 101 306 54 from municipal funds. The total value of the project is EUR 2 026 130.63.