In the park named after Wojciech Bednarski in Krakow's Podgórze district, work has begun on revitalizing the green area. The unique green area was the site of a conflict between a group of residents and the Board of Urban Greenery, which changed the revitalization plan.
old plan
The first plan of the Urban Greenery Board differed dramatically from the final version. It called for the construction of a stage, a viewpoint, new gates and fencing at the steps, the installation of new play equipment and open gyms. The rock slides were to be protected with railings. Work within the park began in late 2019 and early 2020 with the felling of several hundred trees. It was also important that provision was made to close the entire park space for the duration of the work.
Bednarski Park is an important place for Podgórze residents
© Mateusz Łysik
The issue was revived in recent months, when it turned out that the park is to be fenced off, and not from the outside, but from the inside, along the rocks. There will also be absurd fences, new gates that create barriers, do not invite people into the park and contradict the trend of designing open spaces, said Maciej Fijak, an activist from the group Rescue Action for Krakow, in July 2021.
The revitalization of park space advertised by Krakow's ZZM not only failed to meet with approval, but caused outrage and led to the organization of many pickets against the plan. Even the descendants of Wojciech Bednarski took part in protests against the costly redevelopment. We wrote about the course of the action on our portal.
new plan
The first major change in the work that is starting is the division into phases. In this way, residents will be able to use multiple parts of the parks during the works. The first finished section is to be added by the middle of this year.
The scope of work in the park has been reduced. The large stage on the side of Park Street, the vantage point and the stairs leading to it, the gate on the side of Zamoyskiego Street and the fence on the side of Independence Square have been removed. The park will be closed with a gate only from the side of Parkowa Street.
The park will be divided into parts, which will be closed and open during the works
© Press materials of the Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
The most difficult decision was the question of securing the quarry walls. A new expertise was entrusted to specialists from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. The rocks are to be divided into several sectors based on the likelihood of rock crumb landslides. The rocks are to come under constant monitoring, and some of them are to be axed. Certainly the final form will lack barriers, which were deemed ineffective and too invasive.
pressure makes sense
The activists ' actions have contributed to changes in the plans of the Urban Greenery Board. Changes that should be considered important, needed. Reducing environmental interference, forgetting unnecessary fences and dividing the work will allow Bednarski Park to remain unique, reduce the local government's expenses and enjoy this unique space throughout the revitalization period. Breaking the "Kraków underdog" is an important example of how residents should participate in city activities that affect them directly and indirectly.
Podgórze residents will continue to enjoy the unique Bednarski Park
© Mateusz Łysik
