Fallen trees continue to block Maksimir Forest entrances; residents ask: 'How much longer must we wait?'

Residents of Zagreb's Bukovac neighborhood are expressing growing frustration as key entrances to Maksimir Park remain impassable due to fallen trees, more than three months after a severe storm.

The storm, which struck at the end of March, left significant debris, including fallen trees and broken branches, obstructing access to several parts of the popular park. One resident highlighted the Mogilska street entrance as particularly problematic, noting that people are forced to walk on the road, often with children in strollers, elderly individuals using crutches, and pets, simply to reach the main park path.

"It's sad that we have to walk on the road with baby carriages, the elderly with crutches and walkers, and also people with animals to enter the forest on the main path. Can't they at least move those trees aside so we can pass through one path from this entrance?" a resident questioned in a local Facebook group.

Other residents confirmed that upper northern entrances, including those from Požarnje, Prilesje, Šimunska, and Gornji Bukovac, are also inaccessible. They pointed out that the lower sections of the park were cleared rapidly, seemingly in preparation for May 1st holidays, while the upper areas have been neglected.

The prolonged delay in clearing the debris has led to questions about accountability and the urgency of the cleanup efforts, with residents demanding action and a clear timeline for restoring full access to the park.