The Mayor of Sofia announced today that he is withdrawing the Sofia Municipality teams from Vrana Park if the state does not respond to the municipality's proposals for its management by the end of the working day on July 9th (17:30).
This is necessary after more than a year of persistent attempts by the municipality and postponement by the owner of the property - the state - to resolve the issue of managing the park.
The Sofia Municipality recalls that in 2023, after a long case, the Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed that the owner of Vrana Park is the state. Invitations followed on behalf of the municipality to the MRDPW and the Regional Government to settle the relations between the parties for the management of the park, but ultimately the regional governor of Sofia did not take the necessary measures to make this happen.
As a result, the Sofia Municipality has no legal basis on which to continue to assign and perform activities for the overall maintenance of the park.
What lies ahead if the state does not respond to the Sofia Municipality:
On July 10, the Sofia Municipality ceases to carry out any activity in the park and leaves the site.
From July 10, 2025 (inclusive), the “Vrana“ park is closed to visits by citizens, and the movement of bus 50X to the park is also suspended.
On July 10, 2025. Representatives of the OP “Parks and City Gardens“ will be available to hand over the ownership of “Vrana“ Park and transfer of the infrastructure facilities recorded in the accounts to the site.
“I strongly hope that the ultimatum will have a motivating effect on the regional governor of Sofia and the state will find a solution for the park to continue to be the favorite place of the capital's residents and guests of Sofia, which it is currently - either by giving it to the municipality or finding another way,” says the mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev.
Background:
Park “Vrana” has been managed by the Sofia Municipality since 2012.
With a decision dated 11.07.2023, which entered into force, the Supreme Court of Cassation confirms that the owner of the park “Vrana” is the state. For the period from 2013 until the entry into force of the 2023 court decision, the Sofia Municipality has fully implemented the activities for the maintenance of the park territory, both the woody vegetation and the park elements.
On June 6, 2024, in a letter to the MRDPW and the Regional Governor of Sofia, the Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev:
notified both institutions that the park remains without maintenance,
expressed his willingness to assist in resolving the case and
sent a draft agreement between the state and the Sofia Municipality.
Nearly two months later - on July 24, 2024, in response to the letter of June 6, the MRDPW asked the Regional Governor to take action (including organizing meetings and working groups) regarding the management, maintenance and security of the park.
In the meantime The Sofia Municipality team does not close access to the park for citizens, so as not to deprive the residents of one of the most beloved and valuable spaces for recreation and walking in the city. Guided by the belief that institutions must work together for the benefit of the people, the Sofia Municipality continues to this day to provide security and basic maintenance of the spaces to which citizens have access.
Despite a meeting and repeated reminders with official correspondence to the Regional Governor, the Sofia Municipality has not yet received a response from the Regional Administration to advance the contract, which would give the Sofia Municipality team reason to continue managing the park.