Russia’s first children’s playground designed under the National Centre RUSSIA Council project opens in Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg, where the National Centre RUSSIA is currently
represented at the International Festival of Youth — 2026, has opened the
country's first new-generation children's playground inspired by the Dymkovo
toy. The project was implemented as part of the work of the Council under the
National Centre RUSSIA for the Development and Promotion of a New Russian Style
in Public Spaces and became the pilot project in a series of children's spaces
based on Russia's traditional folk arts and crafts.
The children's playground, designed in the style of a traditional folk craft
from the Kirov Region, has become a new feature of a rapidly developing
district of Yekaterinburg, which can rightfully be considered one of the
youngest in the "capital of the Urals". In an area with a high birth
rate, the 558-square-metre play space has already become not only a comfortable
and well-designed attraction for young families, but also a pilot space for
immersion in traditional Russian culture and centuries-old traditions, introducing
visitors to Russia's folk arts and crafts.
"It is important for us that Russian culture should be part of everyday
life and the environment in which children grow up. What a person sees from an
early age stays with them for life and largely shapes their attitude towards
their country and its cultural legacy. That is why projects like this are not
only about the urban environment, but also about how future generations will
perceive Russia," said Yelena Yampolskaya, Chair of the Council under the
National Centre RUSSIA for the Development and Promotion of a New Russian Style
in Public Spaces and Adviser to the President of Russia.
Since the opening, young visitors to the unique space have taken a particular
liking to the three-dimensional images of Dymkovo toys that form the basis of
the play structures. Motifs from the craft are reflected in the shapes of the
equipment, the colour palette, ornaments and surface design.
"Playgrounds like this raise children within the Russian cultural code and
immerse them in the world of our fairy tales and traditions. We hope that other
developers in regions across the country will also adopt this approach to
promoting traditional Russian culture through children's play areas and
playgrounds," said Alexei Zharich, Deputy Head of the Presidential
Directorate for Social Projects.
The initiative to build a children's playground inspired by the Dymkovo toy was
supported and fully financed by the KORTROS Group development company. The
space was conceived not only as a place for children's games, but also as a
space conveying ideas that are understandable to every Russian child.
Yekaterinburg's Akademichesky District became the pilot site for this
large-scale patriotic and cultural project.
"I am absolutely certain that our children will love this place. Through
Russian folk motifs, they will absorb information and develop a sense of
patriotism. Children should be brought up on kind fairy tales. And when they
can also experience these ideas through play, recreation and fun, it helps them
understand the meaning even more deeply," said Alexei Orlov, Head of
Yekaterinburg, at the opening of the space.
According to Vladislav Preobrazhensky, Executive Director of the Moscow
Investors Club, the investment and construction sector has shown great interest
in the initiative to develop and promote a new Russian style in public spaces.
"This project, implemented by a development company, has become part of
broader efforts to create a sovereign architectural and visual identity for the
country, making it possible not only to preserve historical legacy and unique
identity, but also to shape a contemporary image of the present day,"
Vladislav Preobrazhensky noted.
The creation of children's playgrounds inspired by folk arts and crafts will continue in other regions. The next project will be a play space based on the Bogorodsk toy, said Council Secretary Andrei Melentyev.
"We are already discussing the project's development with the regions and inviting companies to cooperate. It is important that such playgrounds appear across the country and showcase Russia's cultural legacy," Andrei Melentyev noted.
The Council for the Development and Promotion of a New Russian Style in Public Spaces was established on 17 April 2025 following instructions from the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. The Council brings together representatives of government, the professional community, business and experts to create a contemporary visual environment based on cultural legacy and traditional values.
