This 1973 collectible postcard depicts the grand entrance to the May 1st City Park in Cherkasy, built in the characteristic style of mid-20th-century Soviet park architecture.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground shows a spacious asphalted square in front of the park entrance, featuring a large triangular flowerbed with decorative landscaping and topiary shrubs. Several pedestrians are seen walking across the square. In the background stands a symmetrical park colonnade with two light, round rotunda-like structures supported by pillars and connected by side galleries. Dense green crowns of tall deciduous trees rise behind the entrance gates.
Historical note
The May 1st Park of Culture and Rest was established in Cherkasy during the Soviet era on the site of the former Cathedral Cemetery and opened to the public in 1954. The ceremonial entrance colonnade served as a landmark for this popular community recreation area, which once featured amusement rides, an open-air cinema, and a dance floor.
Present day
Today, the appearance of this location has completely changed. In the 1990s, the park’s territory was allocated for the construction of the St. Michael’s Cathedral, completed in 2002. The former May 1st Park was renamed Cathedral Park (Soborny Park), and the Soviet-era entrance pavilions, colonnade, and amusement rides were entirely dismantled.
Location (map)
Address: Cathedral Park (Smilyanska Street), Cherkasy, Ukraine
Coordinates: 49.441400, 32.056000
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of Cathedral Park (former May 1st Park) in Cherkasy.
Questions and answers
- What is depicted on the 1973 postcard? The postcard shows the main entrance to the May 1st City Park in Cherkasy, featuring a ceremonial colonnade and a triangular flowerbed.
- What is this park called today? Today, it is known as Cathedral Park (Soborny Park), and it houses the St. Michael’s Cathedral.
- Does the park’s entrance colonnade still exist? No, the Soviet-era entrance colonnade and pavilions were completely dismantled during the site’s redevelopment and cathedral construction.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Cherkasy from 1973.
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