Praha 2 revitalized the Karlov Bridgehead, a statue of a hospital was created there

Prague – Prague 2 has completed the revitalization of the park at the Karlovo embankment near the Nusle Bridge. The renovation included the repair of paths, staircases, replacement of benches, planting trees, and improvements in rainwater management. The municipality paid approximately 18.8 million crowns for the reconstruction. The project also includes a new artwork commemorating the former children's hospital in Karlov, which was demolished for the construction of the bridge in 1971. Representatives of the city district presented the new look of the park to journalists today.

Before the revitalization, the Karlovo embankment mainly served as a passageway between the surrounding streets. "The Karlovo embankment has finally undergone a transformation that matches its location and historical significance. We have managed to enhance the neglected space, utilize its natural potential, and create a place that will serve both local residents and visitors," said the mayor of Prague 2, Jan Korseska (ODS).

The municipality had retaining walls repaired, staircases and park furniture replaced, and paths and sidewalks adjusted. The project also included a change in the rainwater management system and extensive landscaping that clarified the entrances to the park and helped reduce noise from nearby traffic. The park has gained new trees, shrubs, and bulbs, with the final planting of lawns planned for the autumn.

The centerpiece of the renovated park has become the artwork "Brought to Present" by authors Jan Darkes and David Velík. The bronze sculpture commemorates the former children's hospital in Karlov, which had to give way to the construction of the Nusle Bridge in 1971. The work was created based on a public competition funded by the city of Prague's program "Art for the City."

The sculpture takes the form of a tree trunk from which a miniature of the former children's hospital rises. According to Darkes, the trunk symbolizes the demise of the original complex, while the hospital growing from its top represents its symbolic return to the place where it once stood. The authors combined traditional sculptural techniques with modern technologies in the creation of the work. They first created a model of the trunk from clay, designed the miniature of the hospital digitally, and printed it using 3D printing. From both models, molds were subsequently created, into which bronze was cast.

At the same time, the municipality is completing the renovation of the park in Horská Street below the Bastion. It will offer space for recreation, sports, and cultural events. It will feature a bowling alley, a pétanque court, a renovated children's playground, facilities for athletes, a rooftop terrace with a view, a relaxation zone with a fire pit, a public buffet, and a community garden intended for growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs.