Częstochowa is modernizing - for residents and tourists

In recent years, many projects which are aimed at improving the quality of life of the city's inhabitants, but also increasing its attractiveness in the tourist context, have been implemented in Częstochowa. This year, three of them were nominated for the final of the National Modernization of the Year Competition. The picture of Częstochowa is changing and these are not superficial and temporary changes. Each of these investments have a different character and specificity but each of them is worth presenting.

NEW-OLD TOWN SQUARE

In the Middle Ages, the Old Town Square served as the market square of Old Częstochowa. The buildings of the market square were burned down during the Swedish Deluge. Tenement houses in the eastern and northern frontages have been preserved at the Town Square. From the 15th century to 1812, the town hall stood here, destroyed by a fire. According to the stories, Napoleon Bonaparte, who was going with his troops to Moscow, stayed overnight in the inn at the Old Town Square. In 2007, archaeological works began on the square. Their effect was the discovery of the city's well, the foundations of several buildings that no longer exist, probably the town's weight and the gallows. As a result of these discoveries, it was decided to preserve historical elements while bringing them closer to the inhabitants. This is how the project called: "Reconstruction and extension of the building of the Old Częstochowa Town Hall with land development" started.

The project consisted of revitalizing the space of the old town square, the first stage of which was the reconstruction and extension of the old town hall building in Częstochowa into a single-block structure with an underground part intended for renovation and an above-ground part with a facade and glass structure. As part of the works, the square area was built up with a fountain in the form of a water strip, stairs leading to the underground space with an amphitheatre character with seats finished with wood and planted with greenery, lighting, drainage of the area, installation of poles for balancing sculptures and elements of small architecture. Along with the construction of the facility and elements of the square, the streets adjacent to the main part of the square, including Mirowska Street, Senatorska Street and the Old Town Square, were rebulit.

CITY PROMENADE – A NEW SPACE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

At the end of last year, the first stage of the project was completed: Construction of the Green City Promenade in Częstochowa on the area between Wolności Avenue, Boya-Żeleńskiego Street, Skłodowskiej-Curie Street and Bohaterów Monte Casino Avenue. The area intended for construction is a post-industrial area, a former coal block site, unused until completion, with disorganized, neglected pioneering vegetation, and a significant amount of embankments, debris and waste from building materials. The subject of the task was the comprehensive development and transformation of the existing, neglected area into a modern utility facility – a walking and recreation passage with equipment and installations necessary for its functioning. The main compositional element of the facility is the main avenue running from Wolności Avenue to Bohaterów Monte Casino Avenue, through the entire area covered by the report, connecting the entrance square with the central square. The entrance square from Wolności Avenue is the main entrance to the Promenade, designed through a sculptural composition – a kind of multiplied gate – taking the form of a pergola. With the help of architectural forms and dense greenery, it was possible to isolate the area of the Promenade from the vicinity and the impact of traffic, in particular from the side of Monte Cassino Avenue.

The main avenue of the Promenade leads to the central part of the area, on which an oval square has been designed as a multifunctional sports square with street workout equipment – for people of all ages. The entire square is surrounded by a slope in the form of a "green ring", thus reducing the nuisance of the vicinity of the communication artery. The square can also be used as a meeting place. For this purpose, it is equipped with arched, wooden seats, and around the central square, there is a roller-skating path. There are places for recreation for the elderly, who likes long walks, for young people who value active leisure in the open air and for children. In addition, there is also a separate city beach with a grass surface, equipped with deckchairs, for the relaxation of passers-by, Promenade users and guests visiting nearby facilities. The space has been designed in such a way as to ensure full accessibility for people with disabilities. The entire implementation assumed the maximum preservation and use of the existing greenery, the areas disturbed by the construction of technical infrastructure and necessary works were covered with grass.

WATER PARK INSTEAD OF THE USUAL SWIMMING POOL

The Summer Swimming Pool at Dekabrystów Street was built in 1979, and it included a swimming pool, paddling pool for children, a playground and a cafe. The modernization involved the construction of a sports and recreation facility called "Water Park in Częstochowa" in the area of the former summer swimming pool. As part of the task, a three-story building of the Water Park, internal roads, parking lots, pavements and technical infrastructure were built. The building was situated in such a part of the plot that its shape and location would allow leaving as large beach area as possible between the existing Summer Swimming Pool and the new Water Park facility. The swimming pool hall is distinguished by large glazing, thus creating good lighting conditions for the halls and attractive views of the surrounding area.

In the central zone of the swimming pool hall, there is a recreational basin with water attractions and smaller zones: wild and lazy river, artificial wave grotto, part with an artificial wave created by a ball, a zone with under and above water massages, air geysers, as well as a relaxation zone with couches and massage benches. Near the recreational basin, there are swimming pools with hydromassage and places to relax on deckchairs. There is also a separate space for a paddling pool for children. There are two "Anakonda" slides and one family slide in the facility. On the first floor, there is a SPA zone, which includes wellness rooms: dry Finnish sauna, bio-sauna with salt, stone bath, Roman bath, caldarium, sauna of four elements, ice cave, infrared sauna, salt cave, cooling pool, brine pool, showers of "attractions and experiences". In addition, there is also a relaxation terrace with a playground and a dining area located on the mezzanine of the swimming pool hall. The construction of the Water Park allowed not only to create a relaxation and recreation zone that has not been available in the city so far, but also to increase the water table by 100%.

Author: A. Tymoshenko

Translation: M. Wytrzymała