Exploring Dutch Heritage in Park Lefortovo

A look at the park today. It might not be grandoise, but it's just a great place to slow down and take in Moscow. 

One of the oldest and lesser known parks in the city, Lefortovo Park was first opened in the eighteenth century. A great public space, Lefortovo--in its beauty, serenity, and functionality--might just have inspired the great Imperial parks that line St. Petersburg, the “twin” city to Moscow.[1] This park is in the historically “expat” part of town, and the Lefortovo neighborhood today is ethnically and culturally overwhelmingly Dutch. In this “Dutch haven” of Moscow, the park plays host to regular Dutch festivals and cultural events.

Historically, too, it is very relevant. Since it was built in 1708, many kings and queens--including Peter the Great--have played a part in shaping it. Sadly, though, the park, despite its rich and fascinating history, has seen a decline in recent years. While other parks have become fully revitalized and reimagined in the post-Soviet era, such as the Gorky Central Park (the last stop on this “tour”!), Lefortovo has faced just the opposite fate.

The park’s current state, then, gives yet another look into how public spaces are more than just “spaces.” They are intimate, complex insights into the area’s place in time and history. For Park Lefortovo, this is especially interesting, because we see its decline in glory and functionality through the decades. Yet, we see its place as a cultural and historical jewel, too, and the failure of the municipality to adequately revive it is certainly worth nothing. Dutch heritage experts today are playing a role in helping revitalize the park, but the process has been wrought with political confusion and disagreement.[2]

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[1] Lefortovo Park. Moscow.info, accessed Oct. 20, 2016. 

[2] Lefortovo Park in Moscow. Cultural Heritage Connections, accessed Oct. 20, 2016.