The name of this natural attraction of Kharkov in the northwestern part of the city speaks for itself. This is the largest natural forest by area in Ukraine, developed by man as a place of rest. Here you can forget for a while about the city noise, exhaust fumes, shouting and honking of cars. Silence, birdsong, crunch of fir-tree needles under your feet will put you in a lyrical mood, envelope you in calmness and coolness. Magnificent glades and beams call you to sit down, relax and have a picnic. Fans of deciduous forest will find maples, lindens and even giant oaks, which are 200-400 years old. And those who want to breathe in phytoncides will easily find a suitable spot among the magnificent spruce and pine trees.
Long alleys, sculptural monuments and buildings at the same time do not let you forget that this is a place of rest. Lesopark was not always so popular, its planned development as a park began in the 1920s. Alleys, paths were cut, park structures were built, lighting was brought. At that time this place was called «Sokolniki-Pomerki», because it bordered with such Kharkov districts as Pavlovo Pole, Zhukovsky settlement, Sokolniki and Bolshaya Danilovka. The park got its further name thanks to its trustees — Komsomol members, it was called «Komsomol Park», and later — Lesopark. Under Soviet rule, the park «survived» its best years: there were constant plantings of forest plantings, alleys were landscaped with benches and pavilions. After the collapse of the USSR, not only the number of forest plantings was reduced, benches and arbors were broken, lanterns were removed, but also the territory of the park itself became much smaller. Now, as before, you can see such sights as the children’s railroad «Malaya Yuzhnaya», which runs along the southeastern part of the Forest Park, the Memorial to the victims of the totalitarian regime. Who honors the memory of soldiers-heroes of World War II will definitely visit the Memorial Complex of Glory, built in 1977 on the site of mass shootings of civilians by the Germans during WWII, as well as the tomb of the unknown soldier in Alekseevskaya gully.
Kharkiv forest park is a great place for sports. Fresh air, lots of space allow you to strengthen not only the spirit, but also the body. That is why there is a sports school, numerous sports bases: ski HIICSa, society «Spartacus», sports base «Temp», KNPU named after G.S. Skovoroda, ski base «Kharkiv Switzerland» (4 tracks of 300 meters, 3 elevators).
Visiting the Forest Park will not disappoint you in any case, and will give you a lot of fun