Krestovsky Island

Coordinates: 59°58′N 30°16′E / 59.97°N 30.26°E / 59.97; 30.26

Krestovsky Island

Krestovsky Island (Russian: Крестовский остров) is a 3.4 km² island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, situated between several tributaries of the Neva: the Srednyaya Nevka, the Malaya Nevka and the Krestovka. The island is served by the Krestovsky Ostrov station of Saint Petersburg Metro. The Western part of the island is occupied by the Maritime Victory Park^[1]. A new stadium is currently under construction in the west of the island, where Kirov Stadium was previously located (it was also here, where the international Goodwill Games took place in the early 1990s). The Eastern part of the island has been heavily built up since the late 1990s.

History

In the 19th through early 20th century the island belonged to the Belosselsky-Belozersky family. Alexander Mikhailovich Belosselsky-Belozersky acquired the Island, aided by the infusion of wealth from the fortune of his second wife Anna Grigorievna (nee Kozitskaya). In the 1880s after having sold their famous palace on the Nevsky Prospect to Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov (at the Anichkov Bridge, the pink palace at No. 41) the Belosselsky-Belozersky family moved to live on the island, in a beautiful house they rebuilt (designed by architect Rastrelli) at the southern side of the Island.

Street names on Krestovsky island still today reflect the Belosselsky-Belozersky family having occupied the Krestovsky island: Olgina, Esperova, Konstantinova streets reflect the names of the family members (Olga's street, Esper's street, Konstantin's street). The main North to South street leading to the Belosselsky-Belozersky house was named "Belosselsky Prospect" (the Belosselsky avenue/view). After the Revolution of 1917, the street name was changed to Riukhina street (which runs South to the edge of Malaya Nevka from the new Metro station on the island).

Sports venues

On Krestovsky island, many "first" sports venues were launched with Belosselsky-Belozersky active support. The first Russian tennis club and horse polo clubs were introduced, as well as a yacht club; all prior to 1917. The island was always a center for sports and recreation for the St. Petersburg residents. It was also a gathering place for military officers and foreign diplomats, who participated in the horse polo events organized by the Belosselsky-Belozerskys. As this sport was known to be a preferred sport of Englishmen at the time, the elder prince Belosselsky-Belozersky, Konstantin became known as the "Angloman" for his interest in promoting this sport. His older son, prince Sergei Konstantinovich was the second Russian representative to the International Olympic Committee and participated in the organizational committee of the 1900 Paris Olympic games and equestrian events. The younger son, prince Esper Konstantinovich was an avid sailor and won an Olympic silver medal in sailing (10 meter class) for Russia in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.

Yacht club on Krestovsky Island.

During the Soviet times, as well, the island was the base of one of the most successful sport and rowing clubs Znamia. Founded in 1889 and active still on Krestovsky Island during the early 1990s, the club produced Olympic rowing champions Y. Tikalov, V. Boreiko, O.Golovanov, and A. Klepikov, as well as three-time Olympic kayaking/canoeing champion L. Pinaeva. In addition the club produced several World and European champions.

Belosselsky-Belozersky residence

Today, the Belosselsky-Belozersky residence has been reconstructed at the same location where it stood until the late 1950s. (The original structure was badly damaged during the near 900 day siege of Leningrad, from shelling during World War II. It was repaired and used for various purposes, but was demolished finally around 1956). The only structures which remain of the Belosselsky-Belozersky built structures to these days are horse stables on the Riukhina street and a beautiful landscaped park with a small pond and walkways around it adjacent on the North-Western and Western side of the area where the Belosselsky-Belozersky house stood. There is also an "accent" piece of the estate remaining by the edge of the water, of the Malaya Nevka, due South of the property (and the rebuilt house). This is a beautiful rose colored granite stone structure, holding a bench and circular steps leading to the water's edge, forming a landing for boats and offering a calm venue to view the Southern exposure from the estate. The structure, sitting under the shade of oak and linden trees, was draped with a beautiful wrought iron and bronze balustrade (original design of this beautiful structure was by a Swiss architect).

References

External links

• Krestovsky Island @ Encyclopaedia of Saint Petersburg