Wenceslas Square and its surroundings entered into a pilot project under the administration of the Association of New Town of Prague
The Association of New Town of Prague is currently entering a pilot project concerning the administration of Wenceslas Square, Na Příkopech Street and 28th October street. This created a specific project of the Prague 1 district of a relatively fundamental nature, which will have an impact on the cleanliness of these central parts of Prague 1. The pilot project for July and August 2019 is to focus primarily on cleanliness and cleaning, technical condition of roads, furniture and greenery, monitoring focused on transport, social context, advertising smog and chasers. After this period, an evaluation of the entire cooperation will take place, on the basis of which it will be a further expansion of cooperation. As an overarching activity that also supports neighborly relations, the association also wants to invite owners and landlords of houses, shops and restaurants, so that everyone can specifically participate in the improvement project. After years of drawing attention to the shortcomings of one of the most important squares in the Czech Republic and its surroundings, they will be gradually removed and remedied.
“The main topics of the Association of New Town of Prague include the revitalization of Wenceslas Square, its maintenance, safety, appropriate functional use and optimization of transport. The new pilot project of managing three localities in the center of Prague is crucial for us. That doesn’t mean we start this day. On the contrary, it gives us the weight to address and involve as many people as possible who do business, live in the given space, and therefore have the power to influence it, “says Monika Vlková from the Association of the New Town of Prague. “We will continue the work we have begun and intensively expand it. In Na Příkopě, for example, the replacement of benches and the repainting of already replaced ones is already underway. Furthermore, steam cleaning of granite flower pots for trees and local impurities with TSK (Technical Maintenance of Roads). Together with the Department of the Environment, we then deal with the adjustment of tree pots and the laying of stone gravel on the ground, so that it is nice. Waste bins are being solved where they need to be replaced with more capacitive ones and with a look corresponding to this premium city boulevard. Steam cleaning of pavement paving began again on Wenceslas Square last week. It goes very well and the result, ie the difference before and after, is very noticeable. Our goal is to set up regular wet sidewalk cleaning for next year. Currently, steam cleaning takes place in an extraordinary mode every Tuesday morning, about 1.5 hours. Next week, it will be steam cleaned exceptionally on Tuesdays and Thursdays all day. Subsequently, we want to finish the steam removal of various stickers from the columns before autumn. Furthermore, together with Dopravní podnik, we solve their proper care and cleaning of the metro vestibule and the elevator in the lower part of the square. We are cooperating with TSK regarding the missing paving and also about the repair of the grids at the tree bottoms “, adds Monika Vlková.
“It is necessary to address the topic of order, cleanliness and small improvement of Wenceslas Square and Na Příkopě Street and 28th October street. On the one hand, this area is very important at the local and national level, on the other hand, it suffers from a great burden, which is reflected in its appearance, cleanliness and social functioning. We are registering a number of complaints at the Prague 1 district about partial problems and the overall unhappy state of the local public space, and we are interested in responding before major events for the overall reconstruction of the space have taken place, ”says Mgr. Petr Kučera, member of the Prague 1 City Council for IT, environment, cleaning and playground development. “I would therefore like to inform you that for July and August 2019 we launched a pilot operation, the aim of which is to involve various actors and owners in this area in cooperation to improve solutions to small and large sub-problems of various types (cleaning, maintenance of greenery and furniture, impacts of events for the public, etc.), but also for mapping specific problems and monitoring the situation. We draw inspiration from previously created coordination positions, such as the curator of river banks or the coordinator of risk reduction in Vrchlického sady. For pilot operation, we cooperate with the Association of the New Town of Prague which brings together entrepreneurs and citizens in the area of interest. In September, we will evaluate the pilot operation and, if the results are good, I would like to move the cooperation on coordination to a more permanent and formal form, “adds Petr Kučera.
After years, Wenceslas Square will be washed with water and other neglected things that should fundamentally contribute to its visible transformation. People should notice this and have a greater taste and interest in visiting these places and staying here. They will get to know shops, cafes, cinemas, theaters better and will visit them more. The aim of the association is to point out the friendly face of the center of Prague, which should bring, in addition to greater cleanliness, less garbage on the ground, better behavior of people or the exchange of shops for better and more interesting ones.
The Association of the New Town of Prague has launched a pilot project of the Plants Planting event, in which it regulargly plants flower bed on lower Wenceslas Square.
The evaluation of the project will be announced by Councilor Petr Kučera at the third year of the Friendly City Conference (www.pratelskemesto.cz), which the association is co-organizing on 11.9. 2019 in the Hotel Jalta, and which is focused on inspiration and energy for the further development of the hearts of cities, where both representatives of the association and members of the council will perform.
