Vilnius is one of Europe’s greenest capitals, full of undiscovered parks and squares. One of these can be seen on Jerusalem Street, on the left hand side, before you reach the Santariškės roundabout, where you can see a picturesque pond. Little does anyone know that a wonderful oasis of tranquillity is about to be created here.
The territory next to the Jerusalem Pond and Verkiai Manor is to be landscaped and adapted for recreation next year. It will not only be a quiet place for walks, but also a nature trail around the pond, allowing you to explore with rich local flora and fauna.
The management plan for this area was prepared by the SE Vilniaus Plan under a project initiated by Vilnius City Municipality. The project manager, architect Lolita Vileikienė, notes that local residents appreciate the park in their neighbourhood, The project intends to make it accessible to a wider range of visitors while protecting its natural diversity.
“We aim to improve this rich natural area and, as far as possible, make it accessible to different groups of people – families with young children, the elderly or people with individual needs”, says the project manager.
According to the authors of the project, the area has been designed with more comfortable pedestrian paths, recreation, games, sports and other leisure areas. The park is to be equipped with high-quality lighting, and benches are to be placed along the paths under the shade of trees. Although the terrain is quite difficult, by adapting to the existing network of paths, SĮ Vilniaus Plani has managed to design a path around the pond. It promises to provide two terraces for relaxation, from which the landscape can be admired.
Nature trail around the pond
The main path leading from Jerusalem Street offers a panoramic view of the pond, where one of the park’s terraces will also be located, where you can sit and listen to the rustling of trees. It is easily accessible for mothers with pushchairs and people with special needs.
After enjoying the breathtaking panorama and taking a left along the approximately 2-kilometre-long nature trail, you will be able to circle around the Jerusalem Pond. The project proposes natural materials and surfaces for the renovation of the existing paths and for the construction of new paths on the old ones. Solid crushed stone paths are envisaged among the trees, while wooden paths are designed to be raised from the ground closer to the water and in marshy areas.
Once you reach the wetland area, you will not only be able to admire the vegetation typical of wetlands, but you may also be lucky enough to see rare birds or beavers.
According to Emilis Tamošiūnas, Chief Specialist for Environmental Protection and Plantation Management at Vilnius City Municipality Administration, the approaches to the Jerusalem Pond are a hidden natural gem in the city. The area is valuable both from an aesthetic and biodiversity point of view.
“The park includes the valleys of several streams and a small lake formed a hundred or more years ago – the present-day Jerusalem Pond. The particular topography and microclimate here have created a rich biodiversity. The area contains forests and meadows that can be distinguished as habitats of European importance, which meet these criteria,” says E. Tamošiūnas, a native of Dzūkija and a guiding guide in Dzūkija National Park.
According to him, the landscaping and adaptation of the pond’s springs will create another nature trail in Vilnius, which can be used by nature guides or teachers for education and nature education. There will also be information stands to introduce the natural and cultural uniqueness of the area. The aim is to make the site accessible to as many visitors as possible and to allow children to learn about nature through play.
One of the capital’s oldest lime trees
A second terrace invites you to sit and enjoy the southern sun on the northern part of the pond, following the path along the pond.
As part of the renovation of the territory, a bridge is planned to be built near the terrace, which will allow visitors to visit one of the oldest lime trees in Vilnius, which rivals the lime tree in the Sapiegas Palace Park in Antakalnis in terms of its age.
“The linden tree in Sapiegas Park is believed to be the oldest in Vilnius. However, an assessment of the parameters of a linden tree growing near the Jerusalem Pond has shown that this tree may be older than the famous Sapiegas Park tree. The renewal of the site will improve the growing conditions for the long-standing linden, which is a real asset of the Park,” says Vileikienė.
The park, especially in the western part, is also full of other old trees: the spruce trees here are 110 years old. This densely vegetated corner of the park will be left as a natural habitat.
“The ecosystem of this part of the park will remain intact and no new paths are planned. The focus will be on upgrading other, existing paths to make them comfortable for all residents to walk on,” comment the project authors.
After climbing the hill near the old linden tree, you can work out in the sports fitness area. At the request of the residents, the fitness equipment will be geared towards the needs of the elderly. The playground, like the park, will also be easily accessible from the Santara Clinic.
Children’s playgrounds
Two children’s playgrounds will be built in the area of the Jerusalem Pond. One in the northern part of the park. This area is particularly popular with children, as there is a natural slope next to the future playground, which is fun to sled down in winter. We have decided to leave it for winter fun lovers,” says L. Vileikienė.
The second playground is planned for the southern part of the park, next to the Vilnius Jerusalemes Progymnasium. It will have more benches and will serve as a nature classroom where students can learn about nature during the warmer months.
According to L. Vileikienė, the works and design proposals are not only about creating new paths or recreation areas, but also about helping nature. The pond will feature a fountain, the main purpose of which is to reduce the siltation of the Jerusalem pond through natural means.
Vilnius City Municipality will announce a tender for the landscaping of the area between Jerusalemės, Mokslininkų, M. Marcinkevičius and Baltupio Streets this year. The area near the Jerusalem Pond and Verkiai Manor is scheduled to be landscaped in 2022.
