Thanks to the European Capital of Culture title, Košice parks will become a place of relaxation and safety

The reconstruction and revitalisation of parks has now started as one of the investment projects of European Capital of Culture 2013.  In the coming months, companies TuCon a.s. and ERPOS spol. s r.o. will implement modifications in four parks – Komenského east and west, Moyzesova and the City Park. This will result in the creation of a safe area with pleasant green areas offering a wide spectrum of options for the people of Košice and visitors to our city.

Moyzesova park, situated in the Old Town, is part of the protected zone of the Košice Urban Conservation Area. Komenského east and west parks are amongst significant city areas of historical greenery in Sever (North), and are part of the city’s cultural heritage. These parks are not currently able to fulfil their original functions (aesthetic, relaxation, cultural) due to the poor condition of the greenery, damaged public lighting, and damaged benches and waste bins. Revitalisation of the parks will create a multifunctional area designed for pleasant relaxation for whole families and, at the same time, a suitable place for cultural events. Modifications which the parks will undergo will include revitalisation of green areas, terrain and orchard modifications, repair of street furniture, reconstruction of paths, building of fountains and creating space for the installation of artworks. Part of these changes will also be renewal of public lighting and a new cycle path in Moyzesova park.

With the planned revitalisation of the City Park and finishing of the necessary technical infrastructure, the park will become an attractive public space for organising concerts, theatre performances, street art festivals, exhibitions and other exterior cultural events. Part of the park will be fenced, a children’s playground with a painting wall will be built, and paths and the metal gazebo will undergo refurbishment. The rejuvenated City Park will contain reconstructed bridges, public lighting, a historic pond, a fountain and small architecture. An exterior camera system will also help to make it a safer place for visitors.

All the parks will be accessible during the reconstruction. People will be able to pass through using bordered corridors. The parts where works will take place will be fenced for safety reasons. Citizens in the park will not be able to walk their dogs or take part in their usual activities like before and the free movement of people in the parks will be limited.

The overall value of the project implemented by TuCon a.s. and ERPOS spol. s r.o. is almost €10m (€9,805,011.68).

The Deputy Mayoress of Košice, Renáta Lenártová, sees the reconstruction of the parks as a new future for the city: “Such a high sum invested into revitalisation of city green areas has been unseen in our city in recent years. Our aim is to completely change the city parks – neglected thoroughfares will become interesting places for spending free time.”  Citizens will feel an increase in the quality of life in the city within a few months: “People of Košice, we kindly ask you for patience during the reconstructions, we are aware that we have significantly affected normal life in the city. However, this was also our target, to drag the city from many years of lethargy and move it to a new, better quality and more dynamic era.“

According to authorised landscape architect, Ing. Peter Vaňo, member of the board of the Gardening and Landscaping Society, Slovakia currently has a majority of neglected park zones and building development activities and improving the infrastructure does not correspond to the same tempo necessary for adding more green areas. “Generally within landscaping, our priorities are lagging behind world trends. We have different priorities and green areas are very low on the ladder of priorities. It is criticised everywhere; however, there are some exceptions,” stated Ing. Vaňo. In relation to the revitalisation of Košice parks, he appreciated the fact that landscaping is also included in the European Capital of Culture 2013 project. “Each investment which improves the quality of public areas and increases the ratio of green areas to built-up areas is welcome and seen positively, mainly by citizens. If this includes a certain logic and sensible investment, with balanced functions, then it is definitely a boost for the public,” said Ing. Vaňo.

The Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013 project is directly counting on using the revitalised city parks. Various multi-genre events, reconstructions of period events, sculpture symposiums, chamber concerts of classical and contemporary music, special media and multi-genre projects as well as temporary installations will be held in these public areas.  The most well known events that should take place in the parks include the international arts project, White Night/Nuit Blanche, the multi-media open air presentation of Košické imaginácie (Košice Imaginations), a project introducing contemporary art within Street Art Communication, but it will also include, for example, reconstruction of the period events called Reliving the History of Košice. Some SPOTs programmes will also use the parks’ public areas. Sculptural pieces by students from the Faculty of Arts of TUKE, as well as pieces from renowned artists gradually created in sculptural symposiums, are planned for installation in Košice city parks. “The parks are mainly relaxation zones but if we also place art pieces there and organise various events, this will not only enliven the parks but also make the entire public space more attractive. We believe that it will contribute towards people spending more time there, which is common in all civilised countries,” stated the Director of Košice 2013 n.o., Ján Sudzina.