Prize for Chojnice's Town Centre

On 11 September 2008 the Deputy Mayor of Chojnice, Edward Pietrzyk has received the main prize in the second edition of the contest for the best public space in Poland.

The aim of the contest was to promote best practices in improving spatial organization and to raise the attractiveness of the public space in Poland. There were 27 entries, which were evaluated by the panel of experts composed of representatives of Society of Polish Town Planners, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Ministry of Regional Development and Union of Polish Cities. Chojnice won the first prize in category "Revitalised public space".

Chojnice has been awarded for carrying out renovation works in the town centre, which resulted in a new image of the town. The works started in 2001 when the Old Market Square was rebuilt on the basis of the concept of the city architect Andrzej Cieminski. Such material as clinker, granite and sandstone was used. Within the confines of the works a new fountain was built in classicist style. Other interesting elements of small architecture were, among others, spring of fresh water and 79 large flowerbeds made of sandstone.

The Old Market Square became a nice place to rest both for inhabitants and tourists. The municipality continued to invest in improving image of the town by rebuilding streets within urban structure of the town centre and historical tenements. The last step was restoration of Chojnice's most important historical building - St. John the Baptist Basilica Minor, which was co-financed by European Regional Development Fund.

The ceremony took place during the conference "Public space, natural and cultural heritage in Territorial Agenda for the European Union and Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities - challenges for Polish urbanism, rural and spatial planning". Chojnice was granted the prize by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Olgierd Roman Dziekonski and Chairman of Society of Polish Town Planners Tadeusz Markowski.