Sights of the Turksib district -
Tour guide for Almaty region and Kazakhstan -
Zheltoksan Park is one of the new and large–scale urban spaces of Almaty, combining memory, recreation and nature. It is located in the Turksib district, on the border of the residential districts of Zhas Kanat and Mayak, and has now become an important place of attraction for local residents and visitors to the city. There is an Airport lake in the park, where you can swim on a sup board in summer. The Park offers a beautiful mountain panorama of the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau.
A pedestrian pier with a length of about 1,200 meters has become a special pride of the park. It runs along the lake and connects different parts of the neighborhoods, offering beautiful views of the water and urban landscapes. Walking along the bridge, you can feed the ducks that live here in large numbers. In spring and summer, the park is especially pleasing with dense greenery, and in autumn it turns into golden and crimson tones.
The Park covers more than 100 hectares and is considered one of the largest in the northern part of Almaty. It was built on the site of a previously abandoned area and has completely transformed the area. There are long walking and cycling paths, equipped with sports fields for football, basketball, parkour and workout (work-out). Modern play areas have been created for children, and benches and shade areas have been set up for those who like relaxing holidays.
History
Zheltoksan Park got its name in memory of the December 1986 events, when a student and youth demonstration in Almaty became the first open manifestation of the desire for freedom and independence. These events had a huge impact on the history of Kazakhstan, and the park now preserves this memory and symbolizes national identity. The park was opened in December 2020, symbolically on the eve of the anniversary of those events. This place was created not only for recreation and walking, but also as a reminder of an important page in the struggle of the Kazakh people for independence.
How to get there and visit -
The Zheltoksan Pak is located in the northern part of Almaty, next to the Airport Lake, between the Zhas Kanat microdistrict and the Mayak microdistrict, Turksib district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°20'00"N 76°59'11"E
Atmosphere
A walk through the Zheltoksan Park gives you a feeling of spaciousness and freshness. On the embankment, you can listen to the sound of water and birdsong, admire sunsets and photograph reflections in the lake. This place unites different generations – children play here, families relax, young people play sports, and the older generation finds peace and quiet. The atmosphere of the park is filled with symbolism: it reminds of the past, but at the same time inspires the future.
Like many new projects, the park is facing difficulties: some paths have sunk, some wooden structures require maintenance, and reservoirs need regular cleaning. But this does not prevent residents and visitors from coming here every day. In the future, it is planned to develop infrastructure, create new recreation areas, cafes and additional memorial sites that will remind of the events of Zheltoksan.
"The Legend of the Old Gardener"
They say that a spirit lives in Zheltoksan Park – not menacing or sad, but quiet and wise. Old-timers whisper that this is an Old Gardener who took care of these trees back in those fateful December days of 1986. He wasn't a hero or a protester. He just loved his park. And legend has it that when the streets were restless, he would sneak into the park to water the young saplings, as if trying to preserve at least a drop of life and peace amid the chaos. They say he didn't survive that winter. But his spirit remained in the park forever.
And that's his strength:
• He helps lost children. If a child gets distracted in the park and loses his parents, a gray-haired man in work clothes may appear out of nowhere. He will silently point the way or lead to the right alley, and then disappear as if he had never been.
• He keeps the peace of lovers. Couples who make dates on distant park benches feel especially safe. It was as if someone was invisibly guarding their privacy.
• And most importantly, it monitors memory. It is said that if someone walks through the park with bad intentions and impure thoughts or tries to offend vacationers, the branches of nearby trees will begin to make an alarming noise even in calm weather. This is the Gardener's warning.
So, dear guest, when you visit Zheltoksan Park, take a closer look at the shady alleys. Maybe you'll get lucky and catch a glimpse of an old gray-haired man with pruning shears in his hands, who disappears around a bend. Don't be scared. This is the owner of the park. He just continues his work. He makes sure that Memory and Life in this place always grow together.
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