The lot right next to the "Dzhevahir Sky City" complex in Skopje's Aerodrom municipality, which served as an illegal dump for a long time, is finally being cleared. In its place, a park of around 3,000 square meters is supposed to rise, with a children's playground, walking paths, urban furniture and greenery, an irrigation system covering the whole area and completely new lighting lines.

Mayor Dejan Miteski inspected the cleanup and said the project is being carried out together with the "Dzhevahir" company, which he thanked for its support and cooperation.

Over the past year the site was constantly full of every kind of waste, a daily sight for residents of "Dzhevahir" and the surrounding buildings. The garbage there didn't pile up overnight, and the excavator only showed up now.

The park is good news. But the story raises two questions. First, if trash piles up in one spot in the city for an entire year, who was supposed to be collecting it and wasn't? Second, when a basic municipal problem gets solved "in cooperation with a company," citizens have a right to know who's paying for what, and who will maintain the park once the ribbon-cutting is over.