Residents on the outskirts of Almaty are facing a problem: homeless people have settled in the only nearby park. According to locals, the homeless are noisy, harass passersby, and beg for money and cigarettes, reports infohub.kz.

Local residents note that the homeless appear in the park early in the morning and late in the evening. Makeshift sleeping and cooking areas have sprung up in the park, and bottles, bags, cups, and other trash are scattered everywhere.

“This park is filled with waste and garbage. It's impossible to walk. Unknown people come here from the adaptation center. Once a homeless person died right in the park. We found the body and called the police,” said local resident Beken Kalymbekuly.

According to residents, a social adaptation center is located nearby. After leaving the facility, some homeless people have nowhere to go, so they return to the park.

“They are brought to the temporary shelter, and a few hours later, when they sober up, they are released. They have nowhere to go. They are always here in the park. They lie on mattresses in a drunken state and ask passersby for money,” said district resident Saniya Kyrykbayeva.

Parents are also afraid to let their children go to the park without adult supervision.

“We are afraid to let our children out of the house, but there is nowhere else to play. The homeless sleep here, shout, and fight. Bottles are lying around everywhere. Once there was a fire in the park, which we put out together with neighbors and children,” said Zhanakul Temirgaliyeva.

The Alatau district akimat reported that the park was previously leased by a private owner. Now the land plot is being returned to state ownership.

After residents' complaints, the authorities promised to hold a cleanup day and remove the trash.

“We have taken the situation under control. This Saturday, a local cleanup will be organized on the site. Next year, we plan to request a budget for major repairs and restoration of the park,” said Madiyar Abuyev, head of the improvement department of the Alatau district akimat.

According to the authorities' plans, by 2027 the park may see football and basketball courts, new benches, lighting, and repaired pathways.