REGIONAL INFORMATION:
Stredni Morava / Czech Republic

Summary of the pilot investment

The forest park site is situated in attractive landscape setting surrounded by several residential districts with population of 50.000 and newly developed large university campus nearby.

Through the pilot project investment phase, the paths network, greenery renewal, the installation of equipment both for walking and fitness together with outlook tower reconstruction and water element renovation was realized. This renovated open public spaces will create the attractive green leisure area for Novy Liskovec, other adjacent city districts and whole Brno area.

Project description:

Renewal of forest park was realized through the following steps

– Greenery renewal: The first step of the revitalization in 2009, whole area was totally overgrown by vegetation, walking possibilities were very difficult, dangerous and unsafe. From this reason around 500 trees and 1,5 ha bushes were cut down and afterwards 300 woods were planted (the costs of this part app. 150 000 EUR were paid from other sources)

– Restoring the paths network: Old paths were very damaged and overgrown by vegetation, about 2000 m of paths were restored in 2011 (approximately 23 000 EUR paid from UrbSpace budget) , other paths renewal was realized before and app.50 000 EUR paid from other sources

– Water system: Old park pool reconstruction with spring imitation as well as the build new supply system with new well (old one was unusable) built – costs 45 000 EUR

– Installation equipment: Electricity network for water system, for maintenance as well as for public events realized – costs 12 500 EUR, furniture as 13 benches, 5 boards of information signage costs 10 000 EUR

– Outlook tower renovation: Costs spent partially from UrbSpace budget are 80 000 EUR

– Open amphitheatre: This was establish partly in phase of greenery renewal and partly in phase of pilot investment realization, this flat area is used for public events and would be increased by special structures in future – costs spent from UrbSpace budget are 2 000 EUR

Total costs of pilot investment only in 2011 were 160 000 EUR, which from the UrbSpace project budget 50.000 EUR.

Transnational added value

Through the pilot project the application of the Joint Strategy was tested. The measures implemented and how the recommendations of the relevant aspects were followed are shown in the table 1 bellow.
Moreover the pilot project in Novy Liskovec can serve as a model project and developed processes can be repeated in other locations. The transnational added value is belonging especially in experience and know how transfer in following fields:

• renewal of neigbourhoods with high density prefabricated blocks of flats

• methods of succesful public participation at planning and implementation

• sustainable model of green recreational areas management

• systematic approach to pedestrian environment improvement and accessibility
• local natural and cultural heritage interpretation

Sustainability of the investment

Attractiveness of nature at neighborhoods of intensive housing area is very important for citizens to their identification with place of living. People could use parks easy accessible, they feel less tension to travel far away from city to nature outside. More attractive public space is more used and this means more safe and less costs of maintenance. Sustainability as longterm vision of space, as value is very important in every step of urban design – choice of materials, accessibility, etc. The management of the forestall park will be provided on regular base by the Novy Liskovec city district of Brno city.

Foreseen impacts and leverage effect

Our project of Forest Park Renewal discover historical heritage of our city district. Life is a story, we need to be involved into, joint or work on good story. Mostly housing areas are built without any connection with history or any good story. Our city district is situated in 95 % of prefabricated concrete block of flats, built up in 1980’s and 1990’s, the rest 5% is family houses from period 1900 – 1930. Health care centre was built with nice park and brought many jobs and development of city district in that time. Growth and use of this area started to stagnate after World War II, specially park was without care and use. Structures, furniture and equipment of park were lost under overgrown vegetation. Some places in park became to use by young people drinking alcohol and damaging structures of park. Renewal of park is the story of restoring and bringing of former light, victory of the light over the darkness. We enjoy former path network, functionalism design of former look out tower, old trees and other former structures restored in new interpretation for refreshment and leisure of citizens.

No other area in the Czech Republic offers such a range of mountains, garden architecture, spas, wine valleys, remains of the Great Moravian empire, religious monuments and historically valuable buildings, as well as unique examples of modern Bata’s functional architecture.