This spring, construction work will be started on Freedom square (Vabaduse väljak) on two fronts at the same time. Preparation work for the reconstruction of the entire square will start in its eastern part, while the Estonian War of Independence memorial will be erected on the western side.

The reconstruction of the square is divided into two phases. The first phase will entail the reconstruction of its main part, currently occupied by the parking lot. After issues related to land ownership have been dealt with, the second phase will begin and a westward extension adjacent to the high bastion wall of the square will be rebuilt. When the entire project has been put into practice, the city centre will have an extraordinary large pedestrian area.

The parking lot which has taken up most of the square for decades will be closed gradually, starting with the area in front of St John’s Church where excavation works will commence in April for the relocation of utility networks. The construction will begin in August. The first phase of the square should be completed by the end of 2009, but the deadline may be affected by archaeological finds requiring special attention. In the course of earlier random explorations, sections of fortifications dating back to the 17th–19th centuries have been found under to square located right next to the Old Town. The sections of the wall are relatively well preserved and will be restored and exposed if at all possible. However, more valuable historical objects might be hidden under the square and the archaeological excavations could therefore take more time than currently expected.

The main design element of the new urbanistic square will be a tunnel with a wide flight of stairs, which goes under the nearby busy street and emerges again on the southern side of the square. Half of the flight of stairs is intended simply for sitting and lounging about. The part of the square that is above ground will be subdivided with benches, lamps and potted plants. There will be room for roller-skating and skateboarding. A zone for outdoor cafés will be created in front of the buildings lining the northern side of the square. A parking lot for 150 cars will be build under the square, and partially also under the street along with a few small shops and cafés with glass ceilings.

The date when the reconstruction of the westward extension of the square will be started is not yet certain. The area is currently walled in on every side and serves as the location for an abandoned café and former tennis courts along with a spectators’ stand. The plot will be cleaned and the café and spectators’ stand will be demolished during April and May. Until the parking lot under the main part of the square is completed, this area by the wall will serve as a temporary parking space. A pedestrian zone and an underground parking lot will later be built at this location according to the whole project for the square.

The Estonian War of Independence (1918-20) memorial that is scheduled to be erected next to Vabaduse väljak is actually a smaller separate square with a glass statue in its centre. Part of the earthen wall of the Ingermanland Bastion will be removed in order to construct the monument and the section of the fortification wall contained in the bastion will be restored and put on display as part of the memorial. Additional archaeological studies began on the site in the middle of March. The construction of the statues is scheduled to start at the end of May and the deadline for its completion is mid-October. The memorial should be opened at the finale of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on 28th of November 2008.

Just like the Town Hall Square in the centre of the Old Town, the Vabaduse väljak is a location where many public events are held. The square has been the site of cultural events, student festivals and national ceremonies. It is probable that in a couple of years even more events will be organised in Vabaduse väljak, since it will not be necessary to move the cars from the parking lot every time in case someone wants to use the square.

Public discussions regarding the reconstruction of Vabaduse väljak have lasted for years and several competitions for detailed plans have been held. Yet these debates are not comparable in duration or fervour to the arguments over the way the memorial commemorating endeavours for freedom should look and where it should be located. Disputes of the latter kind raged on throughout the first period of Estonian independence and the present and continue to this day when the monument will (maybe) be erected. It seems, however, that this time both objects named after freedom (in Estonian, the War of Independence is commonly named Vabadussõda, literally "freedom war") will (probably) be completed. This will (definitely) not put an end to the debates, but everybody will be guaranteed the freedom to come, stay, see and leave.

Look at the square:
pacman.pri.ee/estonia/tln.html (topmost view in the left column)