Central Square is an area of

Tolyatti Tolyatti ( rus, Толья́тти, p=tɐlʲˈjætʲ(ː)ɪ), also known as Togliatti, formerly known as Stavropol (1737–1964), is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It is the largest city in Russia which doe ...

. It is located in the Central District, directly south-southeast of

Central Park Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West Side, Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the List of New York City parks, fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban par ...

, near the core of the cultural and political life of the city. It is often called the City Garden by the populace rather than Central Square. Central Square is bounded by World Peace Street on the north, Central Street on the west, and Leningrad Street on the south. To the east is mixed terrain including parkland; Central Square itself is mixed terrain, including parkland,

parking lot A parking lot (American English) or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface ...

s, buildings, and monuments. The entirety, which includes large stretches of bare asphalt and random structures, does not necessarily present a pleasing aspect or sense of unified design. Within Central Square itself is the Lada Star hotel (one of the older buildings in the square), a monument to the founders of the city done in an "old Russian" style, and a statue of Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker. There is a small chapel, the Chapel of the Nativity of Christ, erected in 2000, designed in the old style with a golden dome and stained-glass windows. There are also restaurants, trees, and walking paths. Festivals and fairs are held in Central Square. The building where the Tolyatti City Duma (City Council) meets is directly west of Central Square, across Central Street. (This is not to be confused with Tolyatti City Hall, the administrative center, which is three-quarters of a mile (1.2. kilometers) northwest, at Liberty Square.) In Soviet times this building housed the City Committee of the Communist Party.

Palace of Culture

Also within Central Square is the Palace of Culture, Arts, and Creativity (informally called just the Palace of Culture), one of the largest cultural centers in Tolyatti. The neo-classical building was constructed in 1976 in Soviet times; after various interim forms, the institution was converted in 2004 to an open joint-stock company. The Palace of Culture is one of the city's largest venue for plays and concerts. Musicals, holiday extravaganzas, and other shows are presented there. The Palace also hosts corporate events. The Palace also hosts vocal, dance and acting workshops for children; other child or family centered activities are a bowling alley,

laser tag Laser tag is a recreational shooting sport where participants use infrared-emitting light guns to tag designated targets. Infrared-sensitive signaling devices are commonly worn by each player to register hits and are sometimes integrated wit ...

arena, and the Emerald City, a large indoor children's space featuring a

carousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (List of sovereign states, international), roundabout (British English), or hurdy-gurdy (an old term in Australian English, in South Australia, SA) is a type of amusement ...

, giant bubble maker, slides and other play structures, and other attractions.

Birthday parties A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

are hosted there.

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite web , url=http://tltplus.info/p/755/ , title=Центральная площадь в 70-е и сорок лет спустя , trans-title=Central Square in the 70s, and Forty Years Later , author= , date=January 31, 2015 , work=Tolyatti Plus , accessdate=December 6, 2015 {{in lang, ru {{cite web , url=http://tolyatti.pro-otdyh.ru/place/175 , title=Дворец культуры, искусства и творчества (ДКИТ) , trans-title=Palace of Culture, Arts and Creativity (PC & CA) , work=Pro Vision , accessdate=December 7, 2015 {{in lang, ru {{cite web , url=http://dk-tlt.ru/ , title=ДК "Тольятти" , trans-title=DK "Tolyatti" , work=Palace of Culture website , accessdate=December 7, 2015 {{in lang, ru {{cite web , url=http://www.2do2go.ru/tlt/places/33911/centralnaya-ploshchad , title=Центральная площадь , trans-title=Central Square , author=Victoria Rogulёva , work=2do2go Tolyatti , accessdate=December 9, 2015 {{in lang, ru {{cite web , url=http://bilettlt.ru/places/item/3 , title=ДК "Тольятти" , trans-title=DK "Tolyatti" , work=BiletTLT , accessdate=December 9, 2015 {{in lang, ru {{cite web , url=http://2gis.ru/togliatti/geo/3096860399023101/center/49.415721%2C53.50754/zoom/17 , title=Центральная площадь, 4 , trans-title=Central Square, Number 4 , work=2gis.ru , accessdate=December 9, 2015 {{in lang, ru {{cite web , url=http://pravoslavie-tlt.ru/центральное-благочиние/ , title=Часовня в честь Рождества Христова , trans-title=Chapel of the Nativity of Christ , work=Orthodox Tolyatti , accessdate=December 9, 2015 {{in lang, ru Tolyatti