Abandoned Anykščiai quarry to become park and commercial zone

An abandoned former quartz sand quarry covering almost 15 hectares in Anykščiai will be divided into two plots, with one developed into a park and the other designated for a small free economic zone, LRT reports.

Daiva Gasiūnienė, head of the Architecture and Urban Planning Department at the Anykščiai District Municipality, told BNS that a contractor tender has been announced for the park and its infrastructure. The project is expected to cost more than €2 million, with a contract planned within several months and the work scheduled for completion by the end of 2029.

The former monomineral quartz sand quarry has long been abandoned. The municipality says the roughly 15-hectare area contains trenches, gravel and accumulated rubbish. It is located near the Anykščiai swimming pool and close to the entrance to the city centre.

One half of the territory will be developed as a park with greenery and a body of water. Water already collects in one heavily excavated section, which will be expanded and adapted for the project.

The other half will initially be left undeveloped and reserved for a small free economic zone. The municipality envisions space for services, leisure, entertainment, health, sports and tourism businesses, as well as small, non-polluting industry.

Gasiūnienė said the territory could later be offered to investors once the park infrastructure is completed. The municipality could also use the land to develop sports infrastructure or lease or sell it through an auction.

The municipality will allocate €491,000 for the park, with the remaining funding coming from European Union funds. The project is also considered important because the former quarry is next to Anykščiai Regional Park, a protected area.