Hell has frozen over. In Poland, local government officials are increasingly moving away from curt statements in defense of gated public spaces to pointing out potential solutions. Rybnik boasts of a campaign of new plantings where so far only concrete cubes have grown. One is left to ask about scale.
Rybnik boasts of a plan to introduce new trees in the immediate city center. The authorities have decided to introduce new plantings in Rybnik's Market Square and Freedom Square. Among the most important reasons are retention problems, flooding issues, heat island formation or air pollution. How will Rybnik's surroundings change?
Eleven maple-leaf plane trees were selected for the market space. The species was chosen primarily for its fast growth and resistance to urban conditions that are difficult for trees. The city decided to plant trees with an expanded crown of two and a half meters in height and a minimum girth of twenty-five centimeters. The new plantings are intended to blend in with the immediate surroundings, without having to reorganize the market.
It must be remembered that the new arrangement - especially of the Market - must not disturb the existing rhythm of its use. The trees will have to be arranged so that the Market can be used in the existing way - summer gardens, the possibility of setting up the occasional stage, Christmas tree or Ferris wheel in winter. Although we currently have trees in both the Market Square and Freedom Square, experience and observations of the way these areas are used by residents clearly indicate that the amount of greenery there is still insufficient," points out Joanna Kotynia-Gnot, director of Rybnik's Urban Greenery Board.
Visualization of the proposed changes in Rybnik's market square
© The Municipal Greenery Board in Rybnik
The Freedom Square is set to be unpaved with two paths, within which common maples will be planted. The maples will be accompanied by a rose bed. The overall cost of the changes in the market and Freedom Square was estimated by the local government at about seven hundred thousand zlotys. The amount assumes not only the cost of the plants, but also the cost of materials for the anti-compaction system and structural substrate. Tree planting is expected to begin in late October/early November this year.
A drop drills the rock
In addition to the facelift in Rybnik itself, it is worth noting its arguments, put forward by the city's mayor.
Preventing heat and drought, as well as concretization in cities, are measures that our society is only just maturing to, a process that is still too slow, although it is already clear that it is necessary. After many years of covering cities with concrete and paving stones, it is reaching us that the larger the area covered with concrete, the more polluted the air, waterlogging, and increased temperatures. In Rybnik we want to change this - there will be more trees and less paving," argues Piotr Kuczera, Rybnik's mayor.
Putting aside the relative question of the maturation of society, Kuczera's statement indicates an understanding of the course of these processes. Concrete is not bad because someone doesn't like it, but because its consequences in terms of heat islands and the quality of public space are dire. The steps that Rybnik's local government has taken are certainly the right ones, but they will be insufficient if they are stopped at this stage. The fight against the negative effects of concreting is a marathon, not a sprint.
visualization of the proposed changes at Freedom Square
© Zarząd Zieleni Miejskiej w Rybniku
