Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after A.M. Gorky (or CPKiO for short) for many decades has been associated in the minds of the Soviet people with some sort of “factory of happiness”, “heaven on earth” and “example of radiant future”. Time passed by. New political winds brought new slogans, changed portraits of party leaders that were cherished on bignational holidays, replaced sculptures in the alleys... Gradually the park turned from “factoryof happiness” into a place of trivial pastime and by the beginning of the XXI century fell into total decay. Today the old park undergoes big changes again. It rebuilds and reconstructs oneself in attempt to adapt to the needs and demands of the new time. It is, however, important not to forget that initially CPKiO was a creation and still is aliving evidence of terrible but significant historical era. And to get rid of its traces would not mean to get rid of its complexes...
