First President Park

The First President’s Park of Kazakhstan occupies former apple orchards in the foothills of Almaty. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the land was abandoned. Work on an arboretum began in 2001, and the park opened to the public in 2011. It combines walking avenues and boulevards with a Japanese garden, ponds and cherry trees, a topiary garden, a lovers’ alley, and a viewpoint on an artificial hill. Fountains are illuminated in the evening, an ice rink operates in winter, and sports areas serve children and adults. Landmarks include the Kazakhstan monument with golden-eagle wings and a sculpture of the first president, and the Zheti Kazyna ethnic garden with a shanyrak at its center. Festivals such as Almaty—City of Flowers and the Puppet Carnival bring the park to life.

The park contains a topiary garden filled with green sculptures—elephants, pianists, and fantasy figures shaped from trees into cubes, spirals, and other forms. Tall poplars line the perimeter, while elms, chestnuts, and hawthorns grow inside. Flower beds are also designed as works of art: roses cover around 1,250 m², and another 3,500 m² of colorful carpet planting form national ornaments.