Jēkabpils - city of the right changes

People are the most important asset of Jēkabpils. The City Council in various ways is seeking for possibilities how to raise the quality of people's lives.

The cornerstone of Jēkabpils success is using and changing its natural resources. In this way inhabitants have been provided with active recreational facilities to spend time with family and friends.

One of the mostly liked and visited places of recreation is Radzu Reservoir and Mezaparks (Wood Park) in Jēkabpils. Developing of the park infrastructure started in 1966 when 26.2 hectares were planted with 20 different tree and shrub species in order to protect the city from noise and dust. During the World War II and up to the establishment Jēkabpils at the dolomite quarry, the aerodrome was located at Radzi reservoir. From 1986 Mezaparks (Wood Park) started to develop.

The health trail with original runway and gymnastic equipment, accommodation and recreational playgrounds for children were arranged. Since 1998, seven-kilometre running race around the reservoir that gathers outstanding Latvian athletes, has been organized every autumn.

In the summer time eight verdant islands appear. The reservoir beach has Blue Flag which proves that it meets 29 criteria covering water quality, coastal quality, safety, service, environmental education activities and information.

The Islands of Radzu reservoir are important for several species of birds as a nesting place. Here there is a large number of nesting gulls, terns and ducks, and a variety of shorebirds - the river snipes, plovers and sea magpies, and lots of great crested grebe. Up to 2000 pairs of a specially protected species, a black-headed gull -white gull with a dark brown head - are breeding here. This place serves as a link between the past and the future. According to the results of the survey in 2010, it is also a place where people would like to see new, progressive projects, e.g., a bicycle path around the reservoir, bmx-track, a skate park, a motorway for summer activities and a skiing hill for winter sport activities.