Gorky Park

Yesterday, an old friend took me for a short tour around Vinnytsia.  One of the places she showed me was the city park, named Gorky Park after the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky.  It was built during Soviet times.  As far as parks go, it is rather simple and quite unremarkable, except for one distinct feature.  Lying below the nearby buildings, trees, grass and feet of passersby rest the bones of 60,000 people - 30,000 who were executed by the Nazis and 30,000 by the Communists. She said for years during the days of Soviet Union, young people would come to the park to enjoy concerts, dance and frolic and have no idea of the thousands of people under their feet, innocent Ukrainians who had been murdered and then buried there. For her, the park is not a place for recreation or play, but serves only as a place to sit and quietly reflect.

I do not know the specifics of these statistics, or how accurate the figures are.  I only know the fear and sadness in her eyes as she told this story, one of many that describe the utterly tragic history of the Ukrainian nation.  She told me this story in a hushed voice, glancing around furtively to be certain no onewas overhearing her.  She is a pensioner and having come of age during the height of the U.S.S.R., still keeps old habits of maintaining the highest levels of discretion.  Some habits die hard.

 

 Entrance to Gorky Park

 

Gorky Park