Recreation and walks in squares of Almaty.

"General Kolpakovsky left Verny for two years. Before leaving, he gathered the Cossacks of the Almaty village, laid out a park with them, laid out and planted alleys and ordered them to take care of, protect and water the plantings. Two years later, Kolpakovsky returned to Verny, went to the lovingly laid out garden and saw: dry branches were stuck into the ground, and the desert sand had long since swept away the dug irrigation ditches. Kolpakovsky gathered the Cossacks of the Almaty village, whom he ordered to take care of this newly planted grove, and began to reproach them for their carelessness. At first his speech flowed smoothly, the expressions were soft, but the sight of the desert, dried bushes and trees excited the old man more and more, his voice rang out with menacing notes, and suddenly Kolpakovsky grabbed a heavy whip and went to beat the careless Cossacks. The Cossacks fell at the feet of their leader and swore to cherish and protect the new garden - and they kept their promise ... ".

P.P. Krasnov. "Cinema. Letters from the Road". 1911 - 1913.

History of squares in Almaty.

Akhmet Baitursynov Square is located at an altitude of 810 to 820 meters above sea level, located on corner of Dzhambul and Baitursynov Streets, 72 meters northwest of choreographic school, in close proximity to St. Nicholas Cathedral, in city of Almaty.
Akhmet Baitursynov Square in Almaty is a cozy place for rest and walks, located at the intersection of Baitursynov and Zhambyl streets. 
History of A. Baitursynov Square in Almaty.
Akhmet Baitursynov Square in Almaty was opened in 1997 in honor of the 125th anniversary of the famous Kazakh educator, public figure and reformer. The square is located in a historical and architectural place in Almaty. In the southern part of the square there is a hill, on its top there is now a house-museum of A. Baitursynov, which was built at the beginning of the XXth century by the merchant Zubov.
On the northern slope of the hill there is A. Baitursynov Square. Earlier and even in Soviet times the square was called Zubovsky, after the house and the hill, which also had the same names. The merchant Zubov planted trees below his house, the land here was not suitable for growing trees, so some of the seedlings did not take root, but the beginning of the park was laid.
Now around the park there is an architectural ensemble, its old name is Kuchegury. In the second half of the XIXth century, this area was the outskirts of the city of Verny, here lived compactly Dungans, Uyghurs and Dungans, who in 1881 after the conclusion of the St. Petersburg Treaty moved from Kuldzha and its environs to Verny and Semirechensk district.
To the north of the park is the Nikolsky Cathedral, even lower was the Nikolsky Bazaar, which owes its origin to the merchant Zubov. In the mid-30s of the last century, the market was called Proletarsky in harmony with the spirit of the beginning of the Soviet era.
In front of the market there was a small square, with the name - Kirovskaya. Apparently, the square got its name after the visit of S.M. Kirov to Ust-Kamenogorsk in 1934, it was his working trip, and on December 1 of the same year, Kirov passed away. Two dates in the life of the revolutionary and comrade of I. Stalin within one year gave the name to this square. In the early 50s, the market already had the name - Nikolsky.

Across the road from the park in its southwestern part on the corner of Baitursynov and Zhambyl streets is a monument to Shafik Chokinovich Chokin (Kazakh: Shapyk Sheikiyup Shekin), a Soviet and Kazakhstani energy scientist, the founder of energy science in Kazakhstan. In the central part of the park on November 16, 1922, a 5-meter bronze monument to Akhmet Baitursynov was installed.

In the center of the park there is a granite plaque with brief information about A. Baitursynov, reminding visitors of his contribution to the culture and science of Kazakhstan. In addition, there is an obelisk dedicated to the soldiers who liquidated the Chernobyl disaster, paying tribute to the dedication of Kazakhstan who participated in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident.
The square is equipped with a children's playground, sports equipment and a basketball court, which makes it attractive for families with children and lovers of active recreation. The presence of benches and an abundance of greenery create a comfortable atmosphere for leisurely walks and outdoor recreation.
The proximity to the Baikonur metro station and other transport routes provides convenient access to the square for residents and visitors of the city. The Akhmet Baitursynov Square is a place where history combines with modernity, providing city residents with space for recreation, sports and perpetuating the memory of outstanding personalities and events.
Today, the square is a popular recreation area equipped with children's and sports grounds, and retains historical and cultural significance for the city.
Address of A. Baitursynov square.
Almaty, Baitursynov street, corner of Zhambyl street. Buses # 18, 25, 113, 224 run along Baitursynov street. The nearest metro station "Baikonur" is a 10-minute walk away.
Geographic coordinates of park named after A. Baitursynov: N43°14'50 E76°55'39

Authority and photos by:
Alexander Petrov.