A new public rest area has opened in Vaidotai, a village in Vilnius District, Lithuania, giving residents a place for everyday relaxation, neighbourly meetings and small community activities.

The site, called the “Vaidotai Oasis of Rest and Calm”, was officially opened on July 10 at Pramonės Street 7A in Vaidotai, within Pagiriai eldership. In Lithuania, an eldership is a local administrative unit within a municipality.

The project was implemented through the 2025 participatory budget measure. This means the idea came from residents, who proposed the change, supported it through voting and contributed to its implementation.

What was a community proposal a year ago has now become a shared space open to all Vaidotai residents. The aim was to create an attractive and functional place where people can pause outdoors, meet neighbours or hold small local activities.

Greetings from Vilnius District Municipality Mayor Robertas Duchnevičius were delivered at the opening by his adviser Kęstutis Butvydas. He said the value of the project was not only in the infrastructure created, but also in the decision-making process, because residents themselves identified the need and chose the change they wanted most in their surroundings.

The opening was attended by Pagiriai elder Agata Toločko, Danel Dikevič, parish priest of Vaidotai Church of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle, representatives of the Vaidotai community, residents and guests. During the event, thanks were expressed to those who suggested the idea, voted for it and helped put it into practice.

The new rest area includes benches, tables and swings. Flowerbeds and other greenery have also been planted, an information board for community notices has been installed, and waste bins have been placed on the site.

The layout is intended to support different everyday uses. For some residents, it can serve as a quiet outdoor place to sit. For others, it may become a meeting point after work, during a walk with children or as part of a family outing.

The information board gives the site a practical community function. Residents will be able to use it to share notices about meetings, clean-up activities or local initiatives.

The municipality says the space is suitable for residents of different ages. In smaller settlements, such public areas often serve not only as places for rest, but also as informal local landmarks where people can meet without arranging a larger event.

The “Vaidotai Oasis of Rest and Calm” received EUR 10,000 in funding. The money was allocated under the 2025 participatory budget measure in Vilnius District.

The programme has been implemented in the district since 2024 on the initiative of Mayor Robertas Duchnevičius. Under it, residents can propose ideas and vote on which changes are most needed in their living environment.

For international readers, participatory budgeting is a municipal practice in which residents help decide how part of public funding should be used. In this case, the funding supported a small-scale public space directly used by a specific local community.

The new area is not intended only for the opening event. It can be used for quiet rest, small community gatherings, educational activities and family meetings.

That makes the site useful both for everyday outdoor stops and for community activities that do not require large infrastructure. Its practical value will depend on how often residents use and maintain it.

According to the municipality, the space now belongs to all Vaidotai residents. More information about the project is available on the participatory budget page at https://dalyvauk.vrsa.lt/vaidotu_poilsio_ir_ramybes_oaze.

Source: Vilnius District Municipality and participatory budget project information. Published by infoerdve.lt.

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Šaltinio patikra

Tekstas parengtas remiantis Vilniaus rajono savivaldybės paskelbta informacija apie Vaidotuose atidarytą viešąją erdvę.

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Patikrinta projekto vieta: Pramonės g. 7A, Vaidotų kaimas, Pagirių seniūnija.
Suderinti pagrindiniai faktai: atidarymo data, 10 tūkst.
Atskirtas savivaldybės pateiktas vertinimas nuo faktinių duomenų apie įrengtą infrastruktū…

SourceVilniaus rajono savivaldybė

ScopeVaidotai, Vilniaus rajonas

Updated2026-07-15 18:09

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Article contextPeople & topics3#4Robertas DuchnevičiusKęstutis ButvydasAgata Toločko