A pocket park has emerged in the 10th micro-district next to the promenade. A pocket park presents a small area located on an abandoned or unused site. Such a park is called a ‘pocket park’ because it is situated against a wall or between two walls, forming a ‘pocket’. By the way, such parks are one of the adaptation measures for a changing climate.

One of this project's initiators, AUCA lecturer and SILK AUCA Director Emil Nasritdinov, said that the project had been started by his students Altynai Yusupova, Daria Lopukhova and Elina Saparova, who are studying for a master's degree in the Urban Studies programme and had been conducting the public spaces project in spring.

"We had a grant to go to Europe to see interesting examples of public spaces. And when we came back to Bishkek, we were just supposed to write a report and recommendations on how to create such zones in our capital. But then we thought that this would be just another piece of paper that would lie on the shelf, and instead, we decided to take on a specific public space and change it,' Emil Nasritdinov says.

One of the project participants, Altynai Yusupova, is a blogger with many followers on social networks, among whom she surveyed where such ideas could be implemented. This location near the 10th microdistrict was chosen for a reason: the new park appeared at the intersection of three strategically important routes - the Southern Highway, the Ala-Archa River promenade and the road to the micro-district. There is also a special microclimate here, created by a tree in its very centre, water flowing into the micro-district from the river, and a continuous breeze. And on hot days the air temperature here is much lower, it is cosy and comfortable to be in the pocket park.

When they decided on the place, Altynai started collecting money for realisation and in a short period collected 186,000 KGS. And later another collection was announced, thanks to which it was possible to collect about 110,000 KGS, which were also used for this space.

The guys from the Public Association ‘Zherdin Baldary’ learnt about this important project, decided to support it and announced the volunteer recruitment. It was also decided to use the funds from the grant - €2.5 thousand from the public association ‘MuvGreen’ - for this project implementation.

"We were very surprised and, at the same time, inspired by the way Emil agai selflessly single-handedly worked for a month to realise it. We wanted to support him and advertised for volunteers. Also at that moment, we participated in the academy's project ‘Zhashyl Kyymyl’ from the Public Association ‘MuvGreen’, won a grant and decided to use it for this project as well. There were a lot of people willing to help, we selected about 90 volunteers, conducted familiarisation trainings with them, and told them why this project was important for our city. The main condition was to work at the site for 25 hours, but even after this time, many people kept coming and working here from morning till late evening in all weather conditions. Everything that you see here now is made by volunteers and residents,' Elmira Dzhumalieva, project coordinator of the Zherdin Baldary NGO, says.

Altynai Yusupova said the first fundraising was announced for a topographic survey of the area and necessary materials purchase. And people who live in other parts of the city and hardly ever visit this area and even those of our compatriots who are now abroad, actively supported the guys, and thanks to them this new zone has emerged.

"In March, when we had an internship, we visited Europe and saw what public spaces are created there. We wanted such a recreation zone to appear in our city. I live not far from this place and every day, driving by, I observed the spontaneous parking lot, which was arranged here by motorists. And we decided to create a place for people,' Aitynai Yusupova said.

Elina Saparova, another project participant, explained that this project uses the acupuncture urbanism methodology. This is a concept based on point, but meaningful improvements to the urban environment that can cause positive changes throughout the city.

"Why did we choose this particular location? It was a whole study. We spent some time here, observing residents and passers-by, interviewing them, and asking them what they need and are interested in. We noticed that in summer there are a lot of passers-by, but there are very few benches and no such recreation areas. The role of public spaces is very important, we all have a house and an office, but the yards are stolen by cars, and it is no longer safe for children, and people are no longer comfortable to just gather, sit on benches and talk to each other. In principle, we have lost the communication culture with our neighbours, but I think this is a very important component in people's relationships. And our project aims to increase the role of public spaces,' she pointed out.

And the project initiators have other ideas already, how to make our city cosier and more interesting.

"We want to create a new urban involvement practice, when residents do not just feel themselves as consumers of urban spaces but also see themselves as active creators. This project shows that this is possible, as we managed to raise a large amount of money. The City Hall also supported, gave us the go-ahead to realise the park, and will also help with landscaping. And we already have the next location - a big green wasteland near the intersection of Manas Avenue and the Ala-Archa River. And our students are already working on a project for this area,' Emil Nasritdinov concludes.