UKRAINE-KHARKIV-MANSIONS

Kharkiv, June 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes has denied reports about the possible construction of mansions in the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Recreation in Kharkiv.

“I want to tell you and, first and foremost, residents of Kharkiv, that no mansions will be built in the Central Park of Culture and Recreation,” he told journalists on Friday.

Kernes said that pitches for football, basketball and streetball were to be built at the site where trees are currently being logged.

“There will be four free football pitches, 44×22 meters in size, also for basketball and streetball, with changing rooms, with lighting – all this is for our children, our residents of Kharkiv. I emphasize that the fields will be free,” Kernes said.

Earlier, activists of NGO Green Front said that the large-scale felling of trees had started in the park. They suggest that this could be related to the preparation of the site for the construction of houses and entertainment centers. Kharkiv City Council allocated a land plot for them in 2008, but later the leadership of the city and the region repeatedly said that houses and entertainment facilities would not be built on this site.

[UA EUROPE EEU EMRG POL]

PA

18:49:29 EET-2