The oldest park in Bishkek, planted in 1890 when the town was still the Russian outpost of Pishpek. It runs east from Erkindik Boulevard and is shaded by tall oaks and poplars, with a permanent open-air sculpture park that mixes Soviet-era social-realist bronzes with newer Kyrgyz pieces.
The park is also home to the Sculpture Museum and a small art gallery, and on weekends to an informal weekend art market where local painters sell oils and watercolours. The chess pavilions on the southern edge are usually busy until late evening.