On August 31, the Rover Pokuttya bicycle route, created with the support of the USAID DOBRE Program and the Partnership for Local Economic Development and Democratic Governance (PLEDDG) project of the Global Affairs Canada, was officially opened in Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
This project was made possible through inter-municipal cooperation in the field of tourism development of four communities in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast: the Kolomyiska, Lanchynska, Nyzhnyoverbiz’ka, and Pechenizhynska communities.
“This is a good start to long-term cooperation between the communities,” said Mr. Brian Kemple, USAID DOBRE Chief of Party, congratulating the communities and participants on the launch of the new project, “I hope this example will inspire them to implement joint projects in other areas in the future.”
Back in 2021, these communities, together with USAID DOBRE experts and consultants, conducted an inventory count of tourism potential, formed a network of tourist routes, and purchased equipment for developing bicycle tourism and rental services. In particular, USAID DOBRE delivered eighteen universal bicycles, four child seats for them, bicycle locks, helmets, a bicycle repair station, three tourist tents, seven bicycle parking lots, and two dry closets for a total of UAH 265 thousand.
This year, tourist maps (online and offline) of the routes were updated, and short pieces of training and education for community representatives were held. To make it easy for tourists to navigate the routes, the project participants developed layouts and installed information stands in 8 locations, marked about 70 km of paths and ex-trails, and developed five information booklets that, along with the stands, contain all the necessary details: route description and complexity, locations of hotels, architectural and natural attractions, museums, bike rental points, and local information support contacts. The Nyzhnyoverbiz’ka community also created a promotional video.
“The opening of the Rover Pokuttya bicycle route is just the beginning of cooperation between our communities,” said Mr. Yaroslav Myakushchak, head of the Nyzhnii Verbizh village council, “In the future, we plan to implement joint projects to further develop tourism and preserve cultural heritage, which will contribute to the economic growth of our region. And the involvement of local entrepreneurs and their support will be an important component of this growth.”
The bicycle route consists of seven routes and three connecting paths:
- Pedestrian and bicycle route “Through the Valley of the Ancient Prut” – from Dobrotov to Lanchyn, 9.5 km long;
- Bicycle and pedestrian route “To the Yew Tree Reserve”, 10 km long;
- Bicycle route “To the White Well,” 14 km long;
- Bicycle route “Through the Spassky Hills above Pistyn’ka,” 15 km long;
- “Voskresinetskyi” bicycle and pedestrian route, 13 km long;
- Eco-trail “Through the Yew Reserve,” 2.5 km long one-way;
- City bicycle route “Old Kolomyia,” 5 km long.
Rover Pokuttya opened with the first bicycle race called “Riding for a Soldier – Honoring the Memory,” which was attended by many people.
During the trip, tourists will be able to see beautiful landscapes and interesting places: the yew tree reserve near the village of Kniazhdvir, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Nyzhnyi Verbizh, the unique museum and art collections of the Museum of Easter Egg Painting, the National Museum of Folk Art of the Hutsul and Pokuttya regions, and the Museum of History in Kolomyia, exhibits of the Pokuttya Pottery Museum and the Oleksa Dovbush Museum of Local Lore, as well as the Sculpture Garden in Pechenizhyn village, museums in the villages of Dobrotiv and Sadzhavka, the observation tower in Dobrotiv, and panoramic sites in Voskresyntsi, Pechenizhyn, yew tree reserve, Spas, Sopove, etc. Guests of the Ivano-Frankivsk region can also sign up for master classes in carving, authentic dancing, making a traditional wedding wreath, cheese making, and other activities.
To enjoy the new tourist route, you can already rent bicycles in two locations:
- Kolomyia, service center of cultural institutions, 27 Teatralna Street;
- Nyzhniy Verbizh village, service center for bicycle repair, sale and rental, Sichovykh Striltsiv Street.
***
The USAID Program, “Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency” (DOBRE), is a nine-year program, implemented by Global Communities and funded by the United States Agency for International Development. DOBRE has worked closely with 100 consolidated communities (CCs) in ten Oblasts of Ukraine to help them realize the benefits and meet the challenges brought by decentralization. DOBRE provides technical and material assistance to CCs to help them govern openly and accountably and meet the needs of their citizens; and supports citizens’ active engagement in decision-making and policy making. DOBRE’s support encompasses strategic planning; spatial planning; financial management; public service delivery; local economic development; capacity building; good governance practices; and gender- and youth-responsive policies.
In the period 2022 – 2025, DOBRE will be working directly with at least 60 CCs of Ukraine to help them cope with the consequences of the war, recover and rebuild, and resume their trajectory of positive, sustainable development. Partners with Global Communities in the DOBRE Program Consortium include the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center; the Foundation in Support of Local Democracy, and the Malopolska School of Public Administration at the Krakow University of Economics, Poland.
