The Cichociemnych Spadochroniarzy AK Park in Warsaw's Ursynów district, which has been in operation since 2016, will soon undergo a major metamorphosis. It will be rebuilt and upgraded based on a design by eM4 Pracownia Architektury Brataniec. The result will be an environmentally friendly, attractive and conducive to recreation and leisure, space that climatically fits into the character of Kabaty Forest.
The Cichociemnych Spadochroniarzy AK park in the Ursynów district is already five years old. It was created in 2016, but the district's residents mainly lacked spaces conducive to recreation and greenery, so in 2019 the Warsaw Greenery Board decided to announce a competition for the reconstruction of this space. At the time, the best design was proposed by eM4 Pracownia Architektury Brataniec from Krakow, which included the creation of several activity zones and the planting of a large amount of new greenery. Anyway, these were the solutions expected by the residents of Ursynów, who presented proposals on the shape of the park in the public consultations held in 2018. Based on them, the assumptions of the competition project were determined.
The park is located around the Three Peaks Hill, the popular Kazurka Hill, which was created as a result of the dumping of construction waste from the construction sites of the surrounding housing estates in the 1970s and 1980s. Its area measures more than 17 hectares, of which more than 10 are to be included in the EU-funded investment.
Park named after Cichociemnych Spadochroniarzy AK in Warsaw at present
Photo: Adrian Grycuk (Wikipedia)
In 2019, the best project was selected for implementation, and now a contractor has been selected through a tender. The most favorable offer was submitted by AG-Complex. The work is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2022.
educational and ecological character
The project involves dividing the park into several zones: recreation, meeting and play. The whole project will have an educational and ecological character.
Among other things, the park will include a didactic path that will commemorate the history of a unique group of Polish soldiers from World War II - the Cichociemni. The route will lead through the area of the air force gym, which is planned in the recreation zone. There will also be a "Monkey Grove", referring to the Cichociemni training center in Scotland.
The project, implemented by the Warsaw Greenery Board, is in keeping with the atmosphere of the site and the Kabaty Forest buffer zone. Varsovians will have at their disposal another green space for rest and recreation. It is worth noting that we are focusing on environmentally friendly solutions, e.g. elements of the playgrounds will be made of nature-friendly materials, " explains Justyna Glusman, director of the coordinator for sustainable development and greenery of the City of Warsaw.
The park is to feature, among other things, a natural playground
vision: eM4 Pracownia Architektury Brataniec
Visualization of the park after reconstruction (competition materials)
vision: eM4 Pracownia Architektury Brataniec
space for everyone
The project places considerable emphasis on respect for greenery and animals.
Owners of four-legged animals will be able to use a "dog park" with a gazebo and "agility" type training devices. It will be moved from its current location to the forest, popularly known as "birch trees." Residents who are into fitness will be able to exercise at an outdoor gym , the Warsaw City Hall announcement reads.
The changes that will take place in the park are planned with all visitors in mind - families, seniors, dog owners, cyclists or residents who practice sports. The new space is also intended to serve space and recreation. There will be new alleys for walking, a bicycle path, as well as elements of small architecture - new benches, wooden seats and trash garbage cans. The Greenery Board will also erect a gazebo and install lanterns.
There will also be newly arranged spaces for the youngest. Two playgrounds will be created with a safe surface, built from natural materials. It will be possible to use them in two zones - sunny and shaded. There will also be a place to rest on the grass, while a large clearing will be located by the slope of Kazurka Hill and Ziemska Street, cutting through the park on an east-west line. The area will be previously leveled and cleared. The existing rubble and concrete remains will be replaced by plants typical of a flower meadow.
Both the youngest and adults will find something for themselves in the park. There will be lush vegetation and aesthetically pleasing small architecture. The entire green area will be open, without unnecessary fences and barriers, friendly to children, seniors and people with disabilities, " explains Aleksandra Majda-Butkiewicz, director of the Warsaw Greenery Board.
Visualization of the park after reconstruction (competition materials)
vision: eM4 Pracownia Architektury Brataniec
green! 300 trees and 5000 square meters of shrubs
The refreshed park will feature a lot of new greenery. Residents, with whom the project was consulted, wanted the park to have a meadow-like character.
The City of Warsaw argues that all construction work will be carried out with respect for local nature and the requirements for the Warsaw Protected Landscape Area, which owns the park. On its territory, among other things, city gardeners will also leave less frequently mowed zones, sanctuaries for wildlife.
The Warsaw Greenery Board has also planned new plantings. There will be about 300 trees of native species (including birches, oaks, field maples, cherry plums, common pears, willows, brambles) and approx. 5,000 square meters of shrubbery (e.g., watercress, hawthorns, blackberries, currants, brambles). Large trees - willows or common maples - will appear along the bike path, among others. In addition, perennial beds will be planted in the rain gardens.
elaborated: Katarzyna Domagała
