Description
The district Włochy's space has a historical value, that inhabitants want to protect in cooperation with local goverment. The project's objective is to encourage the inhabitants of Włochy (in its historical boundaries, meaning the area of Old and New Włochy which is smaller than the administrative area of the district of Włochy) to care about their city environment, to enable them to learn how to shape their urban environment, to make them participate in activities serving their district by using regulations concerning land planning, to enhance integration of the inhabitants, and to improve communication between inhabitants and local authorities. The objectives will be reached using tools such as a debate, a conference, local paper, information materials, event - arranging a square. The tools were chosen in view of their effectiveness, based on experiences of the association. Many inhabitants have no access to the Internet, but nevertheless they are eager to participate in local events, using traditional media (papers, printed materials).
Summary of project results
"Since 2002 the Association brings together citizens from the Warsaw district of Włochy and enhances the spatial planning within this area, protect the historical heritage of Włochy Garden City and foster civic initiatives of the local community. It also endeavors to have neglected parts of the district, including Cosmos Allotments (former allotments in Sympatyczna St.) and Włochy train station with the adjoining square revitalized. The project strived to initiate the dialogue between citizens of the district Włochy, representatives of the local government and authorities managing sites in question to develop follow-up activities that would lead to revamping of the much-neglected allotments and environs of the train station. Following the project, the City Hall announced public consultations on Cosmos Allotments teamed up with planning workshops and an architectural competition for development of train station. Authorities of the district have preliminarily approved plans for development of the district's new square. A legal assessment of the citizens' impact on spatial plans for environs of the train station was elaborated and a survey on expectations of citizens regarding squares in the district was done among 365 respondents. A hundred citizens took part in transect walks, at least 130 joined thematic meetings. Two debates provided citizens with an opportunity to meet up with representatives of the local authorities and get an insight into good revitalization practices. Two campaigns were put in place with more than 560 citizens: planting flowers in city squares (60 participants) and a Picnic for Active Citizens (500 participants). Additional deliverables include 14 issues of the local magazine “Kula Włochowska,"" co-edited by citizens, which has become a viable platform for presentation of positive outcomes of efforts towards expected changes. Applications for planning workshops addressed to citizens and rollout of an architectural competition for the best professional development of the square were submitted to the city authorities. Three letters lodged to the city authorities called for development of new squares. The project beneficiaries are citizens of the Warsaw's district of Włochy, local authorities, community organizations, and district councilors."
Summary of bilateral results