The restoration of the park at the North Bohemian Museum in Liberec will cost the region 44 million CZK

Liberec - The long-awaited revitalization of the park of the North Bohemian Museum in Liberec will cost the Liberec Region 44 million crowns, with work expected to begin on Friday. Květa Vinklátová (Mayors for the Liberec Region), Deputy Governor, informed CTK at a meeting of the regional council today. The contract was won by the Litoměřice company Gardenline in a public competition, which is currently working on the waterfront at the regional seat. They have 18 months for the restoration of the museum park.

The project was developed by the Krejčiříkovi Studio, which specializes in the restoration of historical buildings. Its architects are also credited with the restoration of the parks of Sychrov Castle and the Kuks Hospital. The project includes the removal of unsuitable paved areas and non-functional or aesthetically inappropriate elements. Paths with impermeable surfaces will be replaced with permeable stone paving or compacted surfaces. New planting is planned, the park will also receive new lighting, rainwater collection, and an irrigation system.

The history of the museum park dates back to 1876, when the Nature Friends Society established the first public botanical garden in the Czech Republic at this location. However, the original garden completely disappeared under several meters of fill approximately 20 years later during the construction of the museum building. Among the most significant specimens of the park are mature native species, such as the European beech and the Norway spruce, likely planted during the construction of the museum building, or the rare Eastern spruce, which is over 100 years old. There is also Ajani spruce, red oak, larch pine, and Lawson cypress.

The project for the comprehensive restoration of the park has its opponents; they dislike, for example, that the rhododendrons, which today conceal access to the museum, will disappear. They also find the planned revitalization too expensive and radical. Many believe that the park is fine and that regular maintenance would suffice; however, experts indicate that some trees are old and dangerous. "The survey showed that something should have been done with the park already 30 years ago," Vinklátová added.

According to the deputy, the progress of the work will be as sensitive as possible. "I understand the public's concerns, but what has been said - that there will be a complete deforestation of the park, is absolute nonsense. There will only be rescue pruning, some trees will be cut down where they are interlocked or where degradation is such that it is necessary," Vinklátová added.

New planting will complement the trees and shrubs. "Today, there is only grass in the understory, and we want to plant perennials that will bloom, and shrubs, which will add another interesting layer to the space," said Přemysl Krejčiřík from the Krejčiříkovi Studio. The gardeners plan to plant flower and shrub species that used to grow in the gardens of neighboring villas around Masarykovy Street, and are thus typical for the area.