Poznaniye Park ("Poznaniye Park — A Territory of Discovery") is an urban public space improvement project in Sarov (Nizhny Novgorod Region), developed in 2026. In August 2026, the project won the All-Russian Competition for the Best Projects Creating a Comfortable Urban Environment in Small Towns and Historic Settlements, making it eligible for federal funding toward its implementation.[2]

Concept and Location

The park is planned for the area between Sarov's technopark and the city — in a wooded belt with informal footpaths that lies outside the perimeter of the closed city and will therefore be accessible to everyone, including visitors from other localities, pilgrims, and tourists.[1] The concept is built around two components of Sarov's identity: the spiritual, linked to the Venerable Serafim Sarovsky, and the scientific, linked to the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics.[1]

The park is divided into three themed trails:

  • "The Path of Knowledge" — runs from the quantorium to the city; it includes a youth and cultural center for conferences, a visitor center, and a food court.[1]
  • "The Trail of Enlightenment" — dedicated to atomic themes; it features themed children's playgrounds with atomic imagery and a science and educational museum.[1]
  • "The Trail of Spirituality" — follows the Satis River to the Serafimovsky Spring; it includes viewing platforms, children's playgrounds, a loop cycling path, and a skate park.[1]

According to the authors' vision, the park is meant to become a science and entertainment center so that every child from Sarov has the opportunity to engage with science; this goal was articulated during a meeting between the project's authors, the chief architect, and the head of Sarov's administration.[1]

Project Development History

The park concept was developed by fifth-year students of the Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (NNGASU), Maria Neklyudova and Darya Ikanova, as part of the second season of the National Student Competition "Blagoustroy!" ("Improve the Environment!").[1] The project took first place in the "Tourist Infrastructure Facilities" category.[1]

Victory in the Federal Competition

In August 2026, Gleb Nikitin announced that the Sarov project was among the five Five Nizhny Novgorod Region Projects Win All-Russian Small Towns and Historic Settlements Competition (2026) — alongside projects from Arzamas (a contemporary culture center in Gaidar Park (Arzamas)), Semyonov ("The Blue of Semyonov's Forests" — development of the museum and factory cluster), Balakhna (renovation of Soviet Square with the restoration of the Bogoroditse-Rozhdestvenskiy church and the Moscow House in Balakhna")), and Bor (comprehensive improvement of Lenin Street (Bor)).[2] According to the Governor, counting the 2026 winners, more than 50 Nizhny Novgorod projects have been recognized in the competition; among those already completed are Uren, the central square of Dzerzhinsk, and Gorodets Museum Quarter.[2]

Sources

  1. Vremya N — Five Nizhny Novgorod projects win the All-Russian Competition for Small Towns and Historic Settlements
  2. Nizhegorodskaya Pravda — A Territory of Meaning: a Nizhny Novgorod student on the concept for a park of the future in Sarov