«Mykolaiv Parks» have been «restoring» the designer bench from Soborna Street for the second year running: they promise to return it in 2027

The designer bench on Soborna Street, which was dismantled by Mykolaiv Parks in 2025. Photo: InsheTV

Mykolaiv residents should not expect the municipal enterprise ‘Mykolaiv Parks’ to return the designer bench by City Day, which was removed from Soborna Street back in November 2025, allegedly for restoration.

This is stated in the response from the «Mykolaiv Parks» municipal enterprise to an information request from NikVesti.

As a reminder, the designer bench was installed near the «I love Mykolaiv» art installation in September 2018 — on City Day — with the support of local businesses.

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych during the opening of the «I love Mykolaiv» photo zone in 2018. Photo: NikVesti

Seven years later, staff from «Mykolaiv Parks» dismantled the bench, whilst Yevhen Homoniuk, manager of the «Mykolaiv Development Agency», stated that it had been taken away «for restoration». At the time, the organisation itself assured the public that «everything would be fine» and that the people of Mykolaiv had «nothing to worry about».

In an official response, Dmytro Chuchmai, director of the «Mykolaiv Parks» municipal enterprise, informed the editorial team that they planned to complete the restoration and return the bench to its original location at the start of the second quarter of 2027.

However, as of 10 July 2026, the bench had still not been restored, and no funds had been spent on its repair. The organisation attributed this to limited funding and classified the work as part of the second phase.

«The bench will be restored once the repairs to benches in the city’s parks, squares and other green spaces, which were planned for 2025, have been completed,» reads the municipal enterprise’s response.

Response from Mykolaiv Parks to NikVesti’s enquiry regarding the bench on Soborna Street

In response to a question from NikVesti, Vitalii Voronov, former director of the «Mykolaiv Development Agency», explained that in 2018, the production of a designer bench took between two weeks and a month, and cost up to 200,000 hryvnias.

Consequently, the bench, which was originally manufactured in a maximum of one month, will not be returned by the municipal services even by the 237th anniversary of Mykolaiv in September 2026. If the enterprise adheres to the new deadline, it will remain outside Soborna Street for about a year and a half.

A similar situation has already occurred with the «Mykolaiv» stele on the Ternivske Ring In March 2024, «Mykolaiv Parks» dismantled it for repairs and stated that they would restore it using their own resources without additional funding. However, two years on, the stele has still not been returned: in June 2026, the executive committee reported that it was still being held by the company, and that repairs had not been carried out due to a lack of funds.

The Ternivske ring in Mykolaiv. Photo from the NikVesti archive

Another example is the removal of the cast-iron fence along Tsentralnyi Avenue. In August 2024, «Mykolaiv Parks» removed the fence, which local residents had suggested restoring, and stated that they would create a «living» hedge of privet in its place. The company had planned to use the dismantled cast iron for other construction work.

However, in August 2025, some of the planted privet had withered. According to freelance environmental inspector Dmytro Riabchenko, around half of the shrubs died in certain areas, whilst the plants survived where watering machines had been used.

The cast-iron fence on Tsentralnyi Avenue prior to dismantling. Photo: NikVesti

Central Avenue after the cast-iron fence was dismantled. Photo: NikVesti

Withered privet bushes in place of the fence. Screenshot from a video by Dmytro Ryabchenko

As a reminder, the photo spot at the junction of Tsentralnyi Avenue and Soborna Street was opened on 9 September 2018 to mark City Day. The project involved not only the installation of a designer bench, but also the erection of an art installation bearing the inscription «I LOVE MYKOLAIV», the reconstruction of the pavement at the junction, the laying of illuminated paving slabs, and the landscaping and greening of the area. In addition, the kiosks that had previously been located nearby were removed from around the bus stop.

We would also like to remind you that on the second Saturday in September, Mykolaiv will celebrate the 237th anniversary of the city’s founding. NikVesti conducted an online survey among Mykolaiv residents to find out whether public events, symbolic celebrations and cultural activities are needed in frontline Mykolaiv during the war, and what form they should take to ensure safety. The results of the survey will be published on 14 July 2026.