Darkhan-Uul, Mongolia
City population: 101879
Duration: unknown – unknown
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 280000 m2
Type of area: Unknown
Last updated: April 2023

The Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City is a government-led initiative that provides an environment for citizens to enjoy their leisure time. It is comprised of multiple facilities, including the "My Mongolia" Park, "Darkhan-50" Complex, Friendship Square, Morinkhuur Complex, Burhantai Tolgoi Complex, Duujin Bridge, and Suren Street, covering 43.0 hectares. The "My Mongolia" Park, spanning 28.0 hectares, is the most significant section of the Center and boasts an 80% coverage of lush greenery. It features a recreation and leisure park centered around the twelve Western zodiac signs and two pedestrian paths that are 1.2 km long and 2.5 m wide. "My Mongolia" Park is a popular destination for Darkhan City residents seeking leisure and relaxation. The "Darkhan-50" Complex covers 4.2 hectares of land and includes green spaces, fountains, and classical sculptures, while the "Morin Khuur" complex is adorned with a statue of a galloping horseman inspired by the legend of Khukhuu Namjil. Occupying an area of 3 hectares, the complex is surrounded by around 1200 trees and bushes. Additionally, the Burkhantai Tolgoi Complex is a memorial park established in 2003, featuring a Buddha statue. (Ref. 1, 2, 8)

Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 6)

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
  • Institutional green space
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests

Key challenges

  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Noise reduction
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Promotion of cultural diversity
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Effective management
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social interaction
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Economic development: service sectors
  • Employment/job creation

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature

Project objectives

The Center was created with the following objectives: - To create a comfortable environment for people to relax and spend their free time; - To increase green area and be fully responsible for irrigation, maintenance and shaping of trees and shrubs; - To increase air humidity; - To absorb background noise; - To reduce environmental dust and improve air quality - To offer opportunities for recreation and the organization of social and cultural events - To support the service sector and contribute to job creation by opening an amusement park in the Center (Ref. 1, 2)

Implementation activities

The Center is predominantly made up of lush green spaces, where tree planting is an ongoing endeavor. In 2022, "My Mongolia" park saw the addition of nine new types of trees, with a 80% growth rate. These trees include a mixture of deciduous and coniferous species, such as maple, elm, poplar, moil, lilac, spruce, pine, and black wood. Meanwhile, 350 pine trees were planted along the railway with a 70% growth rate. The Darkhan-50 and Morin Khuur complexes also received new tree plantings, including 17 spruce and 27 pine trees at Darkhan-50, and 22 spruce and 17 pine trees at Morin Khuur. To further enhance the beauty of the city, 5000 flowers were planted in "My Mongolia" park and the "Darkhan-50" complex. (Ref. 1,2) These green spaces are also equipped with irrigation systems, with the Darkhan-50 Complex, Morin Khuur Complex, and "My Mongolia" park all receiving this benefit. Besides, the Center also provides various amenities such as benches, sunshades, game centers, and playgrounds, as well as an amusement park and Mongolia's first children's railway, established by Ulaanbaatar Railway. Additionally, the Center hosts numerous social events and festivals, including the International Children's Day and the Naadam Festival. For accessibility, "My Mongolia" park has been designed to offer a barrier-free environment for all visitors. (Ref. 2, 9, 10)

Main beneficiaries

  • Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
  • Citizens or community groups
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The "Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City" is an initiative of the local government. Darkhan-Uul province has set a goal of planting 20 million trees in the next 10 years within the framework of the "One Billion Trees" national campaign and the "Green Darkhan-2032" program. According to this, green structures, afforestation, rehabilitation, and protection strips will be built on 15.7 thousand hectares. "My Mongolia" park is one of the places where trees will be planted. Government, non-government organizations, and general education institutions has been also involved in the tree planting activities (Ref. 1, 2)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? No
... a national policy or strategy? Yes ("One Billion Trees" National Campaign (Ref. 3, 4) Darkhan-Uul province has set a goal of planting 20 million trees in the next 10 years within the framework of the "One Billion Trees" national campaign and the "Green Darkhan-2032" program. According to this, green structures, afforestation, rehabilitation, and protection strips will be built on 15.7 thousand hectares. "My Mongolia" park is one of the places where trees will be planted.)
... a local policy or strategy? Yes ("Green Darkhan-2032" program (Ref. 5))

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Private funding by citizens

Type of funding

  • Unknown

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Promotion of cultural diversity

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. "Report on the maintenance of green structures in "My Mongolia" park of Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City", (2023), (Report provided by the specialist of the center), Ulaanbaatar
2. "Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City" official facebook page, available at Source link (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
3. President online news website, (18/05/2022), "Darkhan-Uul province has planted 105 thousand trees within the framework of the "One Billion Trees" National Campaign.", available at Source link (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
4. Montsame online news website, (24/03/2023), "Darkhan-Uul: 300 million MNT was approved for the increase of green facilities.", available at Source link (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
5. Unuudur online news website, (27/02/2022), "Green Darkhan-2032" program will be implemented in Darkhan-Uul province", available at Source link (Accessed on 07/04/2023)
6. Introduction video of tree planting work by Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City within the framework of "GREEN DARKHAN-2032" program, (2022), available at Source link (Accessed on 11/04/2023)
7. "We love Darkhan" Youtube channel (2020), "My Mongolia" park, available at Source link (Accessed on 11/04/2023)
8. Montsame online news website, (01/12/2017), "Eight honored places of Darkhan-Uul province", Available at Source link (Accessed on 21/04/2023)
9. Polit online news website: Mongolia's first child train. Available at: Source link (Accessed on 21/04/2023)
10. Montsame online news website (05/25/2022) The entertainment park has opened. Available at: Source link (Accessed on 21/04/2023)
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 6)
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Mini Mongolia section
(Ref. 7)
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 2)
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
Cultural and Recreation Center of Darkhan City
(Ref. 2)
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.