Mziuri Park in central Tbilisi that suffered severe damage in the June 13 disastrous flood is being brought back to life for public use, particularly benefiting people with disabilities.
This week it was revealed Tbilisi City Hall supported the New Mziuri project, initiated by local citizen and photographer Ana Goguadze, who founded the non-profit Sun Festival organisation.
Her idea was to revive the flood damaged area in a way that would allow the space to be easily accessible for people with disabilities. She also envisaged constructing an amphitheater and establishing a cafe that will not be focused on generating a profit.
Mziuri Park after the June 13 flash flood in Tbilisi. Photo by Agenda.ge/Nino Alavidze.
The facilities can be used by artists and other interested people ... for a small cost,” Goguadze said.
The Mayor’s Office special department has already begun discussing Goguadze's ideas with those responsible for initiating the project, and the search has begun to find companies and contractors who will help make Goguadze's vision come true.
Today at 3pm the project initiators will hold an informative rally in the park under the name 'Paint Mziuri in Happy Colours'.
The event aimed to raise public awareness about the new life ahead for Mziuri Park.
The current amphitheater in Mziuri Park. Photo by Tbilisi City Hall.
Members of the public who wish to participate in the festive afternoon can bring coloured paper and pastels and wear bright coloured clothing.
The project organisers promised that in the near future the Park would also offer a recreation zone suitable for people of all ages.
In the past Mziuri Park was known as the city of children. The idea of founding a children’s city came to local writer Nodar Dumbadze after his trip to the United States. Dumbadze went to Disneyland and was so impressed that he decided to fund a wonderland for Georgian children where kids and their parents could spend time together.
Soon, the idea turned into a small reality and the children's town was opened in 1982.
Mziuri lost its popularity as the park was not properly taken care of following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Additionally, the park became the epicenter of the devastating flash flood that hit Tbilisi this summer.