Ever since it was opened in 1928, Gorky Park has been a central part of Moscow life. Although it became somewhat decrepit in the years after the collapse of communism, it has enjoyed a facelift since being taken over by new management in March 2011.
Moscow's Gorky Park
![An aerial view of Gorky Park in 1979. For decades, the 300-acre park has provided Muscovites with a swath of tranquil greenery in the heart of the Russian capital. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/05772f99-e2f1-4ddc-b59b-e851ad3e2a55_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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An aerial view of Gorky Park in 1979. For decades, the 300-acre park has provided Muscovites with a swath of tranquil greenery in the heart of the Russian capital.
![The park was a major center of "leisure and culture" during the Soviet era. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/a97afcb2-0c4b-4144-a2e8-d34cc4e23341_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The park was a major center of "leisure and culture" during the Soviet era.
![Although the park and its attractions remained popular with Muscovites, they were starting to suffer from neglect by the turn of this century. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/6c1ab96b-c600-4266-86e9-bc66e97cc787_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Although the park and its attractions remained popular with Muscovites, they were starting to suffer from neglect by the turn of this century.
![A number of cheap stalls and cafes were also blamed for lowering the tone of the park. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/91da3837-61da-4b7c-8e2e-6af143d18e23_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A number of cheap stalls and cafes were also blamed for lowering the tone of the park.
![The park's reputation was not helped by the fact that it became the focal point of celebrations for ex-servicemen celebrating various military anniversaries. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/bea8ddbc-c58b-415a-8244-18c48b417e61_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The park's reputation was not helped by the fact that it became the focal point of celebrations for ex-servicemen celebrating various military anniversaries.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/7890f356-1b19-4d61-8094-f00b98052a21_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![It is also being used as a venue for various creative performances and innovative art installations, such as this mural made completely out of coffee beans. ](https://gdb.rferl.org/1797db0d-fca9-4b84-acbc-4e2203194ed8_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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It is also being used as a venue for various creative performances and innovative art installations, such as this mural made completely out of coffee beans.
![A dance performance in Gorky Park earlier this year](https://gdb.rferl.org/8d02eb47-1a6f-4013-8084-d5780c328e70_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A dance performance in Gorky Park earlier this year