On Thursday, April 23, five members of the Ukrainian Parliament arrived in Greenbelt to look at our town, meet with our mayor and with three other City Council members. The delegation was looking for models for redevelopment in their own cities.
They were very impressed by Greenbelt’s well-designed town center, our sense of community, walkability and especially our green spaces and surrounding forest. “Soon the war will be over and some cities are completely destroyed [down] to the ground,” explained Dr. Anna Purtova, deputy chair of the Parliament’s Budget Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on State Investment Projects. Rebuilding after so much destruction, reinventing their system of local government, healthcare systems, education and sister city possibilities were the main discussion topics for the delegation.
Different Systems
There are huge differences between our systems of local government. A town the size of Greenbelt in Ukraine would have 31 or 32 volunteer council members, compared to our seven who receive a small stipend. Only their mayor receives any pay. Yet, despite having other jobs, they spend up to 70 percent of their time on council matters, explained Iryna Nykorak, who was elected to Parliament as a candidate for the European Solidarity Party and previously served as a member of Kyiv City Council. State budget pays teacher salaries but the city can supplement pay for teachers and doctors, they explained, as they discussed education. “It’s difficult but people still wake up in the morning and have to go to school, to take children to kindergarten,” said Purtova of educational planning efforts. They also have no local police force; all are under federal control. These are holdover systems from Soviet days they want to correct.
One member of Parliament told the News Review they also have a federalized press in Ukraine during this period of martial law. She expressed hope that freedom of the press could be encouraged after the war.
Another of the visiting parliamentary members remarked on our Community Center bas reliefs which struck him as communistic. We had to assure him that was just artistry, and the visitors appreciated the message of our Constitution’s preamble.
The visit was hosted by the Greenbelt Refugee Aid Committee, which is active in Ukraine supporting families who have lost their homes and belongings and with assisting various orphanages.
A Sister City?
When asked could a Greenbelt-like city be built in Ukraine, Purtova, said “yes, definitely”. She then went on to elaborate, as follows:
“This week, I had the honor of visiting Greenbelt, Maryland, in my capacity as a Member of the Parliament of Ukraine. During my time here, I was deeply impressed by the city’s unique history and its innovative approach to community life. I saw many practical solutions that could be invaluable for the recovery of my country. This visit has inspired me to advocate for a sister-city partnership between Greenbelt and a city in the Kyiv region. My goal is to build a bridge between our nations so that our youth can see the vast opportunities the world has to offer and gain the knowledge necessary to build a modern, thriving Ukraine.”
Purtova says Greenbelt is a uniquely well-positioned choice for a partnership. “Greenbelt is more than just a suburb of Washington, D.C.; it was born from a vision of resilience during the Great Depression. For a city in the Kyiv region currently undergoing reconstruction, Greenbelt’s legacy as a “city for the people” focused on urban sustainability and social cooperation is an invaluable model,” said Purtova. “Additionally, its proximity to the U.S. capital and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center creates a unique gateway for academic and technological exchange.” They also expressed interest in cultural exchange.
Pillars for Rebuilding
Purtova identified three key pillars that could inform rebuilding in the Ukraine. They include Sustainable Urban Planning: Implementing Greenbelt’s “garden city” principles, such as separating pedestrian paths from traffic. Education and Science: Establishing STEM exchange programs for youth – “I want our students to learn from the best, and having NASA in Greenbelt’s backyard provides a world-class opportunity for that,” said Purtova; and Community Resilience: Adopting Greenbelt’s historical practices of cooperative living and social support to help our people heal and rebuild their lives after the war.
“We are looking for an intellectual partnership. Greenbelt is a living example of how smart, human-centric planning can create a safe environment even with limited resources. By bringing these ideas to the Kyiv region, we aren’t just rebuilding buildings; we are building a higher quality of life,” said Purtova. “My main hope is for our youth. After everything they have endured, they deserve to see the world’s possibilities. This partnership is about giving them the chance to learn, to grow and to bring the best global practices back home. It is a bridge between our shared resilience and a bright, organized future.”
