The project is increasing the memorial of Jan Kašpar by 2.7 million CZK

Pardubice - The project documentation for the memorial of Jan Kašpar in Pardubice has raised its estimated construction cost from one million crowns to 2.7 million crowns. The councilors will decide in June whether to allow the construction of the memorial for the first Czech aviator who was born in the city. This was stated to reporters today by Mayor Štěpánka Fraňková (Pardubice Association).
    "Financing options will be elaborated in more detail. There is the possibility of public budget, a public budget and a fundraiser option, or just a fundraiser, so that the councilors can clearly decide whether the memorial will be realized," said Fraňková.
    If the councilors decide in favor of the memorial, preliminary work will be necessary on Míru Street, and this will also take place while the main shopping street in the city is being repaired, that is, by the end of February next year.
    Last year, the city announced an architectural competition, and the design by Petr Pinkas won. The memorial is supposed to be three meters high, clad in bronze, with the name of Jan Kašpar and the dates of his birth and death. The heart of the memorial is an obstacle signal, which is a light that emits a muted red glow. It is to be placed above the surrounding tall buildings.
    A petition from local aviators protested against the pole, which is over 37 meters high. A wind sock was not used at all during Kašpar's time. They believe a realistic statue of Kašpar with a Blériot propeller would be better.
    Another proposal came from reporter David Macháček. He wanted a symbolic paved runway on Míru Street, a takeoff and landing strip that would honor the aviator's memory, as the city has hesitated to construct the memorial. However, the runway would, among other things, be lost among the trees.
    "When there are trees, only the left part of the runway would be visible, which completely loses the effect," said the mayor's deputy Jindřich Tauber (ČSSD).
    Moreover, the city would have to change the European project, which would complicate the receipt of subsidies, added Fraňková.