This beautiful park with lush greenery and wide alleys is located on the bank of the Svisloch River. There used to be a residential district here with old one- and two-story houses, which were often flooded by the river during high water. After the Great Patriotic War, the quarter was partially destroyed, and it was decided not to restore it, but instead to create a place for Minsk residents to relax here.
The park was laid out back in 1950, with more than 4,000 trees planted, including unique firs and rare blue maples. Its full development stretched over 12 years: flower beds were gradually arranged and paths were laid out. On the central alley, a monument to the fighter pilot hero Sergei Gritsevets was installed, and closer to the center of the park a large fountain was built.
Before the war, one of the houses that stood on the grounds of the square was home to the famous Belarusian playwright and writer Yanka Kupala. His home burned down in the first days of the war, and the writer's manuscripts and personal archive were lost in the fire. In 1959, the Yanka Kupala Literary Museum was built on that site.
In 1972, it was decided to dedicate the entire park to the classic of Belarusian literature. The monument to Gritsevets was moved, and a monument to the writer was installed in its place. The fountain was also redesigned, replacing its sculptural composition and dedicating the обновление to the folk holiday of Ivan Kupala.
