Gdynia Central Park is attracting more and more visitors after the completion of two stages of modernization! Its refreshed space offers not only diverse vegetation, but also zones for relaxation, activity and play for the youngest. In summer, it's worth a look there especially for its multicolored tulips and cooling fountains. This is an example of modernization of a city park consulted with residents and responding to their needs.
Gdynia 's Central Park is undergoing modernization work, which has been ongoing since 2018. The design of its refreshed and modernized version is the responsibility of the Gdynia office ARCH-DECO, which won the competition announced by the city. It is worth noting that the final shape of the project was consulted by the city authorities with residents, who for years have been reporting the need for a place in the city conducive to both rest and activity. This is how the park modernization concept was created, dividing the space into several zones. The effects of two of the three stages of work can already be seen. The third stage is expected to start after the completion of the tender (which is expected to be announced within days), with the entire project completed in the fall of 2023. This is two years later than initially announced by the city authorities.
Central Park from a bird's eye view after modernization (visualization)
vision:ARCH-DECO
Zoned space with space for relaxation and activity
What has changed in Central Park so far? First of all, the space with huge recreational potential has been zoned: activity, recreation, rest and play. Order has reigned in the park, and the green space has gained aesthetic value.
The refreshed and modernized space of Central Park
photo: UM Gdynia
First to go was the relaxation zone, where park visitors can commune with nature in silence. It includes wooden deck chairs "blended" into the lawn, which encourage relaxation at virtually any time of the day or night. This part, located between Tetmajera and Legion streets, measures 11 thousand square meters and was opened to residents for use in 2019. Also in this space there is room for recreational elements: a boules track, chess tables or several fitness devices.
Recreation zone (visualizations)
vision: ARCH-DECO
In the second stage, completed in 2020, the space for the youngest was arranged. The playground, skatepark were upgraded, and a new rope park offering innovative solutions was built. Implementation of the first two phases of the project cost Gdynia about PLN 18 million. The executive work was carried out by ROKA Budownictwo from Starograd Gdanski.
Playground
vision: ARCH-DECO
focus on greenery!
At first glance, you can see that greenery plays a big role in the project. One of the main design guidelines was that the project should preserve as much of the existing greenery as possible and add new greenery to the park. This has been achieved. After the first plantings, the City of Gdynia boasted that more than 3,400 shrubs, more than 3,100 perennials and almost a thousand climbers had been added to the park. Also planted were approx. 35 thousand bulbous plants and 12 thousand ornamental grasses. The park also gained eight new trees.
Vegetation in the Central Park in Gdynia
vision: ARCH-DECO
The diverse vegetation in the park is impressive, but in spring and summer the attention is attracted especially by the multicolored tulips! After two stages of modernization, the park is also better illuminated, making it more willingly visited in the evening and at night.
Tulips
photo: UM Gdynia
third stage of investment
The third stage of the investment, which includes the construction of an underground parking lot to accommodate 270 cars, is to be launched soon. This is in response to the needs of residents complaining about too few parking spaces in the city and high parking fees. Preliminary findings, however, indicate that fees are also to apply in the new parking lot. The final stage of modernization work on Gdynia's Central Park is also to include a pond with a fountain, serving as an ice rink in winter. This part is to cover an area of 35,000 square meters.
