Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The visitor center is the entry point for everyone visiting a protected area for the first time. It is equally important for local residents. How were the needs of key visitor groups considered when creating the new visitor center at Smolenskoye Poozerie National Park in the village of Przhevalskoye? Natalia Butorina, an expert with the Zapovedniki Ecocenter and the Zapovednoye Polostvo Foundation, who participated in the visitor center's design, answers the question.
Visitor centers of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) are multifunctional complexes. Their primary goals are to visually present the natural and historical attractions of the SPNAs, direct visitor flows, and provide up-to-date information and recreational services.
In Smolenskoye Poozerie National Park, almost all educational trails are connected to the recreational hub around the village of Przhevalskoye. Therefore, the optimal location for the new visitor center was chosen at the entrance to the village—convenient for tourists and within walking distance for locals.
When developing the concept for the visitor center building, a special questionnaire was used to collect data on the needs of future visitors. This helped the architects design the three-module building complex and develop a development plan for the adjacent area. The central module is being constructed as a welcoming guest area, housing an information center, a workshop space, an office for staff, a cloakroom, and restrooms. To the right of the main entrance is a large exhibition hall, "The Heritage of Smolensk Poozerie." A separate section of the visitor center building is a multifunctional hall accommodating up to 100 people for various educational events, with video and audio capabilities.
The new visitor center's infrastructure will significantly expand the range of annual environmental education events at the national park. These will include introductory tours of the exhibits, game programs, creative competitions, and temporary exhibitions, as well as events such as nature conservation festivals and environmental education campaigns. The visitor center's multifaceted activities are aimed at promoting the values of Smolenskoye Poozerie Park, increasing public support, and developing visitors' environmental awareness.
The visitor center, as a focal point for visitors to Smolenskoye Poozerie, is focused on introducing them to the national park's tourism opportunities in various formats: one-day and multi-day tours, volunteering, recreation at tourist centers and in private accommodation, and participation in events. One of the key indicators of success will be tourists' desire to return to Poozerie or recommend the tour to their friends.
For local residents, the visitor center offers a new opportunity for engaging leisure activities and expanding their horizons in the familiar places of the Demidovsky District. Themed excursions and workshops, game programs for children and families, creative competitions, and club and hobby groups are just a few of the opportunities available. Visitor centers typically serve as the basis for Friends of Protected Areas clubs, which coordinate community engagement programs. Thus, the visitor center in Przhevalskoye has the potential to become a "third place" (a place for leisure and recreation, as sociologist Ray Olbendurg calls it) for local residents—an interesting place to spend their free time outside of work or school.
The new visitor center will also foster local economic growth through partnerships between residents and the national park. This will include new jobs, opportunities to sell souvenirs, and the promotion of private initiatives to create recreational services for tourists.
The active work of the visitor center creates a multiplier effect that draws new partners of the national park into sustainable long-term cooperation.
*The visitor center is one of the stages of a joint project between the Zapovednoye Posledstvo Foundation and the Smolenskoye Poozerie National Park, implemented with the support of JTI Russia.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.