Actions to change the character of this space have begun within Krakow's Krupnicza Street. The metamorphosis of the street into a woonerf was demanded by residents for many years. When the project was presented by the Board of Urban Greenery, the question arose: is this solution enough? Natalia Nazim, a city activist working for the creation of a woonerf on Krupnicza, answers about the fight for Krupnicza, the changes being made and ideas for the future in this part of the city.
Wiktor Bochenek: How long did the struggle to create a woonerf on Krupnicza last?
Natalia Nazim: The idea of awoonerf on Krupniczawas born in 2012. It was then that for the first time residents organized a picnic on Krupnicza Street, during which various ideas were collected on how this street could look like. Because the project, despite public consultations, could not wait for years to be implemented. In 2017, I submitted it to the civic budget under the name "Green Krupnicza, or the first woonerf in Krakow." The project took fifth place in the voting, but despite its high position on the ranking list, it ultimately did not enter the implementation due to thehigh cost of implementation. For this reason, when in 2017 the city put out for the third time the Local Land Use Plan for this part of the city, together with Lukasz Maślona we submitted a petition "3XTAK in the area of Rajska Street" to Mayor Jacek Majchrowski. It concerned the creation of a green Krupnicza, the preservation of trees on Czarnowiejska Street and a new park on Karmelicka Street. More than four thousand residents signed this petition, and the mayor promised that these demands would be met.
Victor: Then you again proposed to submit this project in 2018.
Natalia: Yes. Unfortunately, despite the promises, the project still could not wait for implementation. Hence the decision to try again in the civic budget. From the very beginning I was helped by city planner Pawel Jaworski, whom I asked for support. This time I also changed the name of the project to "Green Krupnicza, or a resident-friendly street," because it turned out that not everyone understood the meaning of the word "woonerf" - many people were concerned that it meant the elimination of car traffic on Krupnicza and a lack of parking spaces. In the vote ,Green K rupniczaonce again found itself as the first project under the dash... and did not enter the implementation.
Krupnicza Street
Photo: Luxetowiec, © CC BY-SA 3.0
Victor: At the time you thought that this project would never be realized again?
Natalia: No, I always believed that it had to succeed in the end. That's why we kept trying to fight for money for it. I was even in January 2019 at a meeting with Vice Mayor Andrzej Kulig, who promised a quick implementation of the project, but it only ended with another public consultation, which was held in December 2019. Luck didn't smile on us until 2021, when MPEC began designing the district heating network in the area and it turned out that Krupnicza Street had to be dug up from the Bagatela theater to Szujskiego Street. That's when there was a real chance to green up Krupnicza Street at the same time.
Wiktor: Can we talk about success?
Natalia: For me, of course, it is a success, but a partial one, because the residents dreamed of the whole Krupnicza being a woonerf, not just a fragment of it. It would have beengreat if it had been possible to connect Planty and Jordan Park, creating agreen route connecting these two beautiful places. It is a pity that it was not even possible to create a concept for the whole of Krupnicza Street. After all, later it could have been divided further into stages? Unfortunately, the project implemented by MPEC does not include the part from Szujskiego Street to Aleja Trzech Wieszczy, and the further fate of Krupnicza Street is still in question - it is not known whether it will ever be possible to green it in its entirety. At the moment, the only announcements made by director Lukasz Frank about thecreation of a bicycle passage connecting Ingarden Street and Krupnicza Street fill me with optimism. I hope that at least in this way we will manage to connect these unique green areas.
Krupnicza street - the section behind Szujskiego street
© Zarząd Zieleni Miejskiej w Krakowie
Wiktor: During the presentation of these concepts, were there any negative assessments of the restriction of car traffic next to the hospital itself?
Natalia: Yes, there were such concerns, but the city's traffic engineer, Lukasz Gryga, prepared a plan in which the hospital would have safe and collision-free access via Czysta Street for ambulances from the side of Trzech Wieszczy Avenue, which are currently not connected. I realize that it is a very difficult and arduous process to change residents' thinking about a common space where car traffic is not a priority. In the past, we couldn't imagine the Main Square or Szczepanski Square without cars, and yet now no one can imagine it could be otherwise. Any change that introduces any kind of restriction on cars generates opposition and it takes time for it to be accepted.
Wiktor: If a woonerf were created along the entire length of Krupnicza Street, neither the Dietla Hospital nor the Bagatela theater would be affected?
Natalia: A woonerf is mistakenly associated with eliminating car traffic and turning the street into a pedestrian zone. Rather, a woonerf is about trafficcalming , so that pedestrians and cyclists can feel safe. I can also assure you that none of these institutions would be harmed.
This is what Krupnicza Street is to look like after the changes are implemented
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
Wiktor: How do you and other activists fighting to change Krupnicza Street assess the project of the Board of Urban Greening? Adequate or perhaps too limited?
Natalia: Theprospect of planting about forty trees is definitely a change for the better. If indeed this space will provide equality for everyone moving through it, this is also a huge change for the better. However, I am cautious for now, because, however, often thebeautiful visualizations presented to residents during public consultations are not necessarily reflected in reality later. That's why I'm calmly waiting for the final effect of the Krupnicza Street reconstruction, and I hope it will be very green indeed.
Car traffic is to be restricted
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
Wiktor: Will you and other activists continue to fight for the creation of a woonerf along the entire length of the street?
Natalia: I submitted a project to the civic budget this year for greening the section of Krupnicza between Venice and Garncarska Streets. I will continue to strive to make Krupnicza green in its entirety. Therefore, I believe that this is just the beginning of changes in this part of the city.
Plants appear in limited form, as well as rain gardens
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
Wiktor: Was it worth fighting to change this street?
Natalia: I think it was. In the center of Krakow we don't have a woonerf except for the Main Market Square, and even there the lack of trees is very bad. If we showed, using Krupnicza Street as an example, that it is possible to create a street that is green and friendly to all traffic participants, I think the attitude of residents towards the creation of more woonerfs would change a lot. This would make it possible to green more streets in Krakow.
Wiktor: Thank you for the interview.
A projection showing the changes along the entire length of the street
© Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
