The second phase of Central Park has been completed in Gdynia. It features an expanded playground, a rope park and a skatepark for younger children, as well as a fountain, rest areas and plenty of new greenery. Gdynia-based Arch-Deco office is responsible for the architectural design of the project.
The just-opened second part of the revitalized Central Park covers an area of 15,000 square meters. Users will be able to enjoy many amenities that will make spending time outdoors more pleasant. Undoubtedly, the park will appeal to the youngest. One of the highlights of this zone is the modernized and expanded playground. There are new activity and play areas, additional lighting, and places to sit and lie down. A rope park is also part of the park, with an impressive 9-meter pyramid, a frisbee net for climbing and balancing, and a rope trail. The skatepark, which already existed, has been modified to include a section for younger children.
Fountain in Central Park
© Arch-Deco
A paradise for the youngest
However, not only children will enjoy visiting the park. Another new element that has appeared in the park is an illuminated fountain with water and mist jets, throwing water 2 meters high. This is an attraction that will please people of all ages, especially during hot weather. For those who like active recreation, sections of a running and roller skating path have been realized. In order to make the use of the park's infrastructure enjoyable, the adjacent road system was modernized: to calm traffic, the intersection of Marshal Pilsudski Avenue and Legion Street and the nearby pedestrian crossings were elevated, and a new bus stop was designed on the park side.
oasis of greenery
What delights is the new greenery in the park. More than 3.4 thousand shrubs and more than 3.1 thousand perennials, nearly a thousand climbers, nearly 35 thousand bulbous plants and nearly 12 thousand ornamental grasses have arrived. Already there is a noticeable difference that makes it possible to literally sink into the greenery. In addition, there will also be 8 new trees in the park. You can relax freely in this space - 34 new benches have been placed in the park.
The area where Central Park is located has been undergoing revitalization for several years. It aims to bring out the maximum potential of this place, located in the heart of Gdynia. All three phases of the park's expansion, with a total size of more than 6 hectares, were designed by Gdynia-based architectural firm Arch-Deco, selected for the task through a competition. Zbigniew Reszka, president of the Arch-Deco office, says this about the project:
Greenery in this project is an overriding value for us. The most important thing was to reconcile the rich functional program, included in the terms of the competition, with the preservation of as many green spaces as possible. We fought here for every tree, every shrub. I watched over this personally, because some of the trees that can be found in Central Park are really valuable specimens - for example, 80-year-old beech trees. We also wanted to make the lighting as intimate as possible. The expectation that the green area would be a safe, publicly accessible space even after dark meant that we had to seek a consensus between the requirements of the flora and fauna and the realities of a modern city.
Central Park in Gdynia
© Arch-Deco
The lungs of Gdynia
The priorities in the project were to respect the existing greenery, introduce new plantings and appropriately selected vegetation, and regulate water management. As a result, Central Park will become the green lungs of Gdynia with a unique climate. Danuta Dębowska, an architect from the Arch-Deco office, talks about the biggest challenges of this project:
Designing the Central Park meant for our office to face the ambitious task of developing a green island in the very center of the city, whose potential was not fully used and appreciated. When designing architectural structures, the effect of implementation is immediately visible. In this case, we are put to the test of patience - the new greenery needs time to reveal its full potential. Nevertheless, interesting effects can already be observed.
one of the stages
The park consists of various zones, and everyone is sure to find something for themselves. A year ago the first stage was put into operation. Ewa Karendys wrote about it on our portal in a list of Tri-City parks. It has a more relaxing character, allowing contact with nature and its contemplation, especially in the sensory garden, where, when the time is right, you can meet large numbers of birds, butterflies or harmless wild bees. It also houses an off-road gym, a boules track and a dog run.
The area of the first stage of the Central Park is 11,000 square meters. The second stage, just handed over, covers 15 thousand square meters. The third and largest zone, the design of which is currently in its final stages, will cover 35 thousand square meters. In total, the Central Park will thus cover 6.1 hectares. Along with work on the park, the adjacent road system is being upgraded. The total investment is more than 9 hectares. The cost of construction of the second stage is more than PLN 10 million (PLN 10,077,419.64 to be exact).
