Residents of the “Baltasis berželis” garden community in Kaišiadorys are calling for urgent municipal intervention regarding a long-awaited pedestrian path and ongoing property flooding. According to community member Romanas Steponavičius, approximately 600 residents, many of whom are seniors or low-income, face significant daily challenges due to a lack of infrastructure and inadequate drainage, despite a 2025 agreement that cleared the way for a new path.
Infrastructure Access and the Five-Kilometer Detour
For decades, the residents of “Baltasis berželis” have struggled to reach the local hospital located only hundreds of meters away from their community. Because no official pedestrian or cycling path exists, residents are forced to travel a five-kilometer detour through Žiežmariai. Romanas Steponavičius reports that the community has been requesting a direct route through the forest since 1980.
Currently, residents rely on an unofficial forest trail that is not legally sanctioned or equipped for vehicle use. The lack of an official route has led to increased traffic on narrow, gravel garden streets, causing significant dust and safety concerns. Efforts by residents to install speed bumps on these streets are frequently undone by municipal graders, according to Steponavičius.
Did You Know? The “Baltasis berželis” garden community has been formally requesting the construction of a direct pedestrian and cycling path to the Kaišiadorys hospital for 46 years, dating back to 1980.
The 2025 Path Agreement and Local Government Stance
In 2025, a shift occurred when the Trakų regional division of the State Forest Enterprise formed a servitude and provided official authorization to the Kaišiadorys District Municipality to develop a path through state-owned forest land. A formal agreement was signed between the two entities, which theoretically removed the legal barriers to construction.
Despite this, Steponavičius states that the Kaišiadorys District Municipality has not initiated the project, citing that it is not considered a priority. The municipality has reportedly not responded to repeated inquiries from residents regarding the project timeline. Because the existing forest trail is not legally recognized, it cannot be formally repaired, leaving residents to wait for the construction of the new, authorized path.
While the legal framework for the path is now in place, the project’s future remains uncertain without a formal budget allocation or project schedule from the local government. Residents may continue to face mobility barriers until the municipality designates the construction as a priority.
Ongoing Property Flooding
Beyond mobility issues, the community is grappling with a secondary crisis: the flooding of private plots. According to Steponavičius, the flooding has persisted for the last two years, resulting in consistent damage to resident property. No further details on the scope of the damage or planned drainage solutions were provided in his account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are residents currently forced to travel five kilometers to reach the hospital?
There is no legal, direct pedestrian or cycling path connecting the garden community to the hospital, forcing residents to take a longer route through Žiežmariai.
What was the significance of the 2025 agreement with the State Forest Enterprise?
The Trakų regional division of the State Forest Enterprise officially authorized the Kaišiadorys District Municipality to build a new path through state forest land, providing the necessary legal ground for the project to proceed.
How long have residents been requesting this path?
According to Romanas Steponavičius, residents have been requesting the path since 1980, a period spanning 46 years.
How might the lack of formal infrastructure impact the long-term safety and livability of the “Baltasis berželis” community for its senior residents?