Jiráskovo Square in the Plzeň district of Slovany will significantly change its appearance

Plzeň – Jiráskovo náměstí with the monastery garden in the Plzeň district of Slovany will change significantly after more than 100 years. The three-hectare area with a church next to the elementary school will have new infrastructure and the appearance of parks and greenery will undergo fundamental changes. The revitalization costs are estimated at 135 million crowns excluding VAT. The project has now received a zoning decision, the next phase is the building permit, and the reconstruction should start by the end of 2023, said Pavel Šindelář (ODS), the deputy mayor. The city and the second city district are partnered with the Proměny Karla Komárka Foundation, which supported the park's renewal with 25 million crowns.

"This year is the last opportunity to see the monastery garden in its current state, as it will soon undergo reconstruction," said Antonín Herrmann, the principal of the nearby Masaryk elementary school, which has prepared a Weekend of Open Gardens for Friday, June 11, and Saturday, June 12. "The event is one of the few opportunities for people to see into the normally inaccessible space behind the walls of the Dominican monastery," he said.

It was the school's students who came up with the idea in 2012 to open the Dominican garden to the general public. The project from the Creative Democratic School program: Cultivating Space was successful and became the impetus for organizing the first Weekend of Open Gardens in the monastery garden. The efforts of the students were subsequently supported by the city district, which had been planning the square's renewal for many years but lacked the funds. It succeeded in obtaining them in 2015 when the renewal of the square and garden was supported with a grant from the Proměny Karla Komárka Foundation.

"The final form will reflect not only the needs of local people but also the latest trends. A new playground and fountains will be created along with a unique irrigation system. It will emphasize the management of rainwater," said the foundation's director Petra Lepková.

Architect Marek Sivák from the Cultivating Space association considers the square's renewal to be a unique project in the Czech Republic. "Dozens of local organizations and enthusiasts are actively collaborating, and moreover, they often address a whole range of challenges that the history and present of the place brings in an innovative way. We are pleased that the preparations for the project managed to involve the general public. We believe that the implementation will demonstrate that it makes sense to approach the development of public spaces in such a quality manner," he said. Communication with citizens began in the winter of 2015 when the majority indicated in questionnaires that they wanted a change. This was followed by discussions with citizens, entrepreneurs, transport experts, greenery specialists, and network providers. The district regularly informs its residents.

Most of the funds will go to the renewal of water and sewage pipes and roads, with the rest allocated for park modifications, greenery, furniture, and public lighting. Plzeň already has allocated funds in its budget forecasts. The foundation will monitor the project's parameters for 20 years.