Park Shovkovichniy (Mulberry), Slovyansk

In the early 1840s, a mulberry plantation was laid out here — the state wanted to raise silkworms. The silk boom never came, but the park stayed. For nearly two centuries this green patch has outlasted an empire and two wars, and still holds on in the heart of a frontline city.

Location at a Glance

What Is This Place and Why Do People Visit?

Shovkovychnyi Park is one of the oldest parks in Sloviansk and the city’s favourite place for a stroll. It has tree-lined paths, an outdoor stage, wooden sculptures, and the adjacent Mriia (Dream) square. For a frontline city, this is not just a green zone — it is a symbol of normal life continuing against all odds.

History

In the early 1840s Sloviansk gained a «State Mulberry Garden» planted with mulberry trees. By the mid-1840s a city stage had been installed, and the garden gradually became the favourite leisure spot for locals and visitors alike.

In 1891 the plantation was purchased by Khrystian Tilman, but by 1903 the city reclaimed it. New paths were laid, a new stage built, and a library, billiard room, and canteen added — the park had become a fully fledged leisure centre.

In 2016 the park’s historic name was restored, and after renovation it was reopened on 1 May 2020.

Since 2014 Sloviansk has repeatedly found itself at the centre of events in Donetsk region, and since 2022 the city has been in the frontline zone. The fact that the park keeps living and being renewed is itself eloquent.

Legends and Local Lore

1. The Silk That Never Came

Locals like to recall that the mulberry plantation was laid out with a dream of Ukrainian-grown silk, but climate and circumstance had other ideas. The silkworms were never successfully raised — yet spreading trees and shady paths grew in their place, and the city can no longer imagine itself without them.

2. Sculptures from the Epic

The new wooden sculptures in the park are inspired by The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign (Slovo o polku Ihorevim) — the events of this medieval Rus’ epic partially unfolded in these very lands. The steppe of Donetsk region thus reminds visitors that its history reaches far deeper than recent decades.

What to See on Site

Wooden sculptures. Among them are figures from The Tale of Ihor’s Campaign, as well as the much-loved «Flamingo» and «Elephant.» Some sculptures were relocated here from the Sloviansk resort grounds.

Alleys and the outdoor stage. The park’s historic layout, complete with a performance space, is what keeps it a living hub rather than just a patch of greenery.

Mriia (Dream) Square. The tidy neighbouring space makes a pleasant addition to a walk through the park.

How to Get There

Within the city. The park is in Sloviansk and well known to locals — it is easily reached on foot from the central streets.

Important. Sloviansk is a frontline city in Donetsk region. Always check the security situation before visiting and pay attention to air-raid alerts.

Traveller’s Checklist

• Bring: water and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring: an app with air-raid alerts enabled.
• Check: the current security situation in the city before you travel.
• Don’t: ignore air-raid sirens for the sake of one more photo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the park called Shovkovychnyi?

In the early 1840s a mulberry (shovkovytsia) plantation was established here for silk production. The silk industry never materialised, but the name and the trees remained.

Is it safe to visit Sloviansk right now?

Sloviansk is a frontline city. The security situation changes, so plan your visit based on the latest information and pay attention to air-raid alerts.

What is there for children in the park?

Wooden sculptures including the «Flamingo» and «Elephant,» plus paths for walking — the park is family-friendly.

Shovkovychnyi Park is a story about the stubbornness of green life. The silk never came, but people, trees, and nearly two centuries of walking did.

And that is precisely why, in a frontline city, this park means more today than ever before: it stands for the fact that normal life has not disappeared.