Work has begun on the realization of the Railway Park along the flyover between Kopernika and Grzegórzecka streets in Krakow - a section of the city connecting Wesoła and Grzegórzki, which has been waiting for intervention for many years. What was the story behind the creation of this space?
The park is to connect Wesoła and Grzegórzki
© PKP PLK SA
turbulent beginnings
The development of flyovers and the area around them has been an emerging topic in Krakow for many years. In 2022, the design and construction process was criticized in the pages of A&B by the then president of the Krakow branch of SARP Marek Kaszynski. Work on modernizing the railroad line in this section had been underway since 2016, and in October 2018 the winning entry in the competition for the concept of developing the area was selected. The concept competition was won by the Dutch studio VenhoevenCS, and their futuristic vision included greening the flyovers, introducing pedestrian and bicycle paths elevated above the street level with the addition of commercial premises.
First prize in the "New Life Between Flyovers" competition, proj. VenhoevenCS
© VenhoevenCS
After the concept was selected, consultation meetings and surveys were started, which were developed by A2P2 architecture & planning studio. The surveys primarily confirmed residents' needs related to greenery, noise levels, parking or bicycle routes.
However, the key thing is to think of the realized Grzegórzki railway station as one of the most important points and traffic generators on the map of Downtown Krakow," Monika Arczyńska said for our portal.
The theme of the park refers to railroads
© PKP PLK SA
railroad park under construction
After consultations, the project to be implemented at the site was also presented. The concept was developed by the Board of Urban Greenery in Krakow - the Railway Park, as it is to be called, refers to the surroundings of the flyovers.
The site is to be leased by the city for ten years
© PKP PLK SA
We wrote about the project on Architekturaibiznes.pl - the concept calls for the creation of an area of isolated greenery, a playground in the form of a railroad town, a sensory garden or a dog park. The functions of the park are to be diversified - taking into account the needs of the residents of this part of Krakow. The entire investment is divided into three stages of work - the first, which has already begun, is the development of the area from Kopernika Street to Grzegórzecka Street. Subsequent stages are to include sections from Grzegórzecka Street to Miodowa Street and from Dekerta Street to Limanowskiego Street. This formula was also to be linked to changes around Grzegórzeckie Square according to the design of the ZZM team, which Ola Kloc wrote about for A&B in 2020.
Under the flyovers we will find a dog park
© PKP PLK SA
Significantly, the land on which the park is being built remains the property of PKP PLK - the City will lease the area for ten years. As we were informed by the Board of Urban Greenery, both parties anticipate further continuation of the agreement after that time. Completion of the work is planned for 2024, which, as ZZM points out, depends on raising funds for the entire development of the area.
One of the goals of the emerging greenery is to create an isolation zone
© PKP PLK SA
more than a connector
The area on Blicha Street, within which the Railway Park is being developed, is now not only an important link between the ever-renewed Wesoła and Grzegórzki, but also an idea to cover up the chaotic process of building the flyover and connect with green tracts of space that have so far effectively deterred pedestrians. However, the final evaluation of the space will depend on both the implementation of the park concept and the coherence of the entire premise.
The entire process of creating the park has been divided into stages
© PKP PLK SA
