The Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow has canceled the proceedings to select a contractor for the design concept for the planned linear park. The reason? Only two bids were received for the third inquiry, both exceeding three times the estimated cost of the concept.
history of the park's creation
The creation of a linear park in the vicinity of Woznicow Street has been an emerging concept in Krakow for several years. In 2019, the Krakow City Council's resolution to develop the area was revoked by the Małopolska Voivode, Piotr Ćwik. Allegedly due to going beyond the authority of the City Council.
After the Voivode's repeal, an attempt to create the park was made by residents of the Czyżyny district, submitting a project to the civic budget in 2020. The goal was to organize the park's space, marking out and asphalting alleys and setting up benches and trash garbage cans. The project was rejected on the grounds that it violated the provisions of the budget, due to proceedings for the return of plots of land under the provisions of the law. A renewed attempt was made to submit the project to the civic budget a year later, highlighting the bypassing of the plots against which the proceedings are pending. The concept was rejected due to its contradiction with current investment plans. Objections were raised by the Sports Infrastructure Board itself.
inquiry and bids
On the initiative of Councilman Lukasz Sek, an amendment to the budget appeared, providing for the preparation by the Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow of an inquiry for the selection of a contractor.
Not a single design was sent to the first and second announced inquiry for the linear park concept. It was not until the third request for proposals that two designs appeared. However, both were priced at more than 100 thousand zlotys, three times the estimated cost of the concept. The most possible scenario in the current situation is to announce a bid in the new year. The answer to this question will come when the 2022 budget is passed. Should the cost of performing the concept be higher?
The amount of thirty thousand zlotys has been secured in the budget by the Urban Greening Board. Relying on them and their experience such an amount was secured after joint discussions. The problem may have been the deadline, as the inquiry came in October, meaning the contractor had very little time," comments the results of the inquiry for the concepts, the initiator of the park, Councilman Lukasz Sęk.
The site of the planned Woznica Park
© Press materials of the Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow
This example is also a case study of the approach to the topic of park design. Is it possible to design good quality green areas, created by specialists, while meeting financial requirements? This question is difficult to answer. The planned linear park in the vicinity of Woznicow Street is still in the design exploration phase. What its future will look like depends on the New Year's budget.
