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(Source: http://wiki.ru/sites/v_mire_zhivotnykh/id-news-177415.html)
Sokolniki is one of the oldest and most famous parks in the capital. Even remoteness from the cıty center does not hamper its popularity: Sokolniki is located not only outside the Garden Ring, but out of the Third Ring Road as well.
This is a large (about 600 hectares) green area in Moscow‘s north-east. On the north it closes up with Losiny Ostrov national park and flows into a huge forest area, where the wild elks still can be met.
Sokolniki became a recreation and active entertainment place four centuries ago – If to consider "active fun" the tsar falconry hunting, that Alexei Mikhailovich, the one who built nearby Izmailovo manor, was a particular fan of. Even today, the park scheme reminds the map of the old town - the basic layout of Sokolniki is almost two centuries old. Rides, playgrounds, pavilions, cafes and other entertainment are concentrated around the main entrance. Next, there are seven radiating alleys.
Fountain Square is the park’s center. Around it, there are cafes, terraces, toilets and so-called infomats, which they can be used for visiting the park’s website or for calling help desk. Since 2011, the park set course to "mental rejuvenation." At the same time Sokolniki is not going to follow the path of "hipster" Gorky Park, and remain in another niche - it is definitely a family park. There are lots of entertainment places for kids: playgrounds, sports club, children's creativity house and Panda Rope Park. Last one is the lowest and most accessible rope park in Moscow: even trails for grown-up do not rise more than a meter above the ground. In Sokolniki was arranged an extreme park for teens with climbing wall, skate park and go-karting.
Adults can loosen up on the tennis courts, in outdoor swimming pool, can sit in a cafe or restaurant or visit the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy. There are also "Retro +" dance floor, Big and Small rosariums for walks, Chess and checkers club. In summer there are roller and bicycle rentals available, in winter – skates and cross country skis.
The park has own ‘Sokolniki Park’ mobile application (so far available only for iPhone owners). It can be downloaded from AppStore for free. It represents a park guide, which displays the schedule of daily activities, poster, map and photos. Free Wi-Fi is available in Sokolniki area.
Author: Anna Dorozhkina
