Six new pocket parks will adorn Warsaw by the end of the year

Fuelled by the civic budget, they reflect a growing need for green spaces in the Polish capital

By the end of this year, Warsaw will have six new pocket parks and another one will be ready next year, as the city website informs. The green addition to the urban landscape will be funded under the civic budget of Warsaw, which means that the residents of the Polish capital have both put forward the idea and selected it in favour of other high-quality projects – a testimony to their desire to enjoy more green spaces in the city.

Inviting nature to the big city

A pocket park, or also – a mini park, is what its name suggests – a smaller than a regular park that is still accessible to the general public, offering a place for relaxation, socialization and making the urban landscape more attractive. Pocket parks usually appear on small pieces of land in cities, between buildings. However, literally, any piece of public space can turn into a beautiful mini park; be it an abandoned road, a rooftop, or a “leftover” land from a larger project, which did not find any good use for developers.

Unlike larger parks which are meant for the entire community of a city, a pocket park is rather dedicated to those who live, work or pass by its immediate vicinity, offering a quiet place of recreation amid concrete jungle.

Rapid processes of urbanisation make green spaces scarce and entice cities to seek creative ways to add more greenery to the urban landscape. Such is the case with the Polish capital, which announced the construction of seven new pocket parks within the next few months.

The new pocket parks will be created in five Warsaw districts: Bielany (two pocket parks this year and another one – in 2023), Praga-Południe, Praga-Północ, Ursynów and Mokotów. The squares will occupy an area of ​​about 400 to over 2,000 square metres. Another two pocket parks were already constructed this year – in Bemowo and in Mokotów.

In all locations, apart from comfortable pedestrian paths, there will also be new lawns, tree plantings and thousands of shrubs and perennials. There will also be elements of small architecture - benches, bicycle stands, and litter bins.

The plants have been selected so that the squares retain their natural values ​​throughout the year, the city website further points out. The shrubs provide shelter for birds, and the rich selection of plants also provides food for pollinators. Insect hotels and feeders will also be part of the green spaces. Decorative elements for play will also adorn them.

The green parks fall into a larger effort of making urban spaces more attractive and sustainable. Recently, Warsaw unveiled plans for its largest park to date, and shared how it is using even the local tram poles to add more greenery.