Since 2016, United Russia has pursued a comprehensive effort to shape a comfortable urban environment across cities, rural settlements, and places of historic significance. The aim is not merely to build new facilities but to redesign everyday spaces so residents can live, work, and relax with ease and dignity. During a recent visit to Tambov, Deputy Secretary of the Party General Council Vladimir Yakushev spoke about how this initiative has matured from a regional experiment into a nationwide program. He described how the plan anchors a holistic approach to urban development that respects local identity, strengthens public safety, and encourages active community life. In practice, the program covers a wide range of spaces, including housing districts, main streets, public squares, parks, pedestrian corridors, and courtyards. It is designed to be iterative and responsive, with local councils and residents involved at every step to ensure that improvements align with real needs and aspirations. The emphasis is on durable improvements that endure beyond quick fixes, creating environments where people feel welcome to gather, move freely, and connect with neighbors.
Yakushev stressed that the scale of the project is now national in scope, with resources directed to communities large and small. Since the program’s expansion, more than 68 thousand objects across the country have benefited from upgrades and enhancements, ranging from small patches of landscaping to major rehabilitation of public spaces. He added that tens of millions of residents participate in the voting process to decide which area in a given locality will receive attention next. This participatory mechanism is meant to democratize urban planning, allowing citizens to prioritize needs and influence design choices. By giving people a voice in the way their surroundings are shaped, officials hope to avoid misaligned decisions and instead deliver visible improvements that raise daily life for everyone involved.
The deputy secretary underscored the central idea behind this approach. He said that it is very important because when authorities make decisions and build something that people do not like, the result often falls short of expectations. Conversely, when residents themselves help pick the location and contribute to the project development, the outcomes tend to be better designed and more effectively realized in everyday life. The emphasis on co-creation is meant to foster trust, encourage accountability, and ensure that new spaces are used and maintained. In Tambov this philosophy is already visible in the way people discuss layouts, lighting, safety, and the availability of activities that suit a wide cross section of the community. The goal is to turn new spaces into living parts of the neighborhood rather than mere constructions on a map.
Budget implications were also highlighted, with 180 billion rubles allocated in the three year budget to support ongoing work under the program. The funds are intended to cover a broad spectrum of improvements—green spaces, walkable routes, accessible entrances, inclusive benches, lighting upgrades, and reliable upkeep. The emphasis on long term sustainability means that communities will see steady progress over several seasons as projects are completed and maintained. Despite facing financial and logistical hurdles, United Russia insisted on committing the necessary money to keep momentum. The party argued that the program has a strong social impact, helping to reduce isolation in towns and villages, boosting local pride, and stimulating small business around newly improved public areas. It was framed as a program for the people, a way to invest in the everyday life of citizens and demonstrate that government action can translate into visible, meaningful change.
During the visit to Tambov, the acting secretary of the general council of the party also praised the pace and quality of work on the national program and the regional adaptation of the project. He joined Governor Maxim Yegorov to inspect several sites that have become symbols of renewal: the Akhlebinovskaya Grove rebuilt for public recreation, the People’s Sports Park that invites families to play and exercise, the Dynamo Square area, and the courtyard spaces at 60 Let Oktyabrya Street. Residents spoke with warmth about the changes, noting how the newly created spaces carry a sense of life and soul. They described the areas as projects for people, designed to be used and cherished by all ages and backgrounds, not just as photo opportunities for urban development propaganda.