REGION
Terasy u Sýkorova mostu, Foto: Jiří Zerzoň
Ostrava is Greener and More Beautiful
Mgr. Kateřina Šebestová has been the Deputy Mayor of Ostrava since 2014. Her department
covers the environment and IT. We talked not only about the transformation of the waterfront
in the city centre but also about new parks and landscaping. Ostrava is simply greener and more
beautiful than ever before.
Ostrava is finally showing some of its natural beauty
and people say that it is thanks to so-called ‘green
projects’, however, that is a very broad term. Could
you tell us what is meant by ‘green project’?
It is my personal way of labelling projects that I have been
working on for the past couple years. What they all have
in common is their focus on changing and revitalising
the overlooked areas of Ostrava—whether it’s a park or
a public square that needs to be renewed in order to
improve the living environment of local citizens.
The city is clearly investing in these project
For example, the long overlooked area behind
the bishopric in the city centre underwent great change.
Instead of remaining a run-down area, it has been turned
into a beautiful park, a unique space, one that we have
not seen before in Ostrava. It will be particularly eyecatching in spring when the trees sprout leaves and the
orchard is filled with ripe apples. It was dubbed the Parish
Garden. If you visit the Ostrava city centre today and you
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walk past the church of St. Wenceslas, definitely take the
time to visit the Parish Garden—perhaps have a picnic
on the wooden terrace or simply relax in the shade. That
place really has a sort of magic to it.
The Parish Garden is truly unique. People are also
excited about the new terraces by the Ostravice River.
Yes, that is something that gives me great joy. We have
been working on the transformation of the Ostravice
waterfront for multiple years now. We first modified
a large portion of the right bank of the waterfront, from
the shipyard to Sýkorův bridge. We then planted some
new greenery, installed benches and special sun-beds,
picnic tables and an outdoor gym by the shipyard. Even
the historical Shooting Bridge pillar received a muchneeded renovation. The terraces you mentioned were
constructed under the Miloš Sýkora monument. Once
again, they are something new for Ostrava. They
attract people to sit down and relax. It is pleasant to
see them being used and enjoyed.