Which of your public domains gets renewed in Budapest? – Part 1.

32 developmental projects are supported in Budapest, each district gets at least one, index.hu reports.

The general assembly of the capital voted about the results of TÉR_KÖZ competition of 2016, in which the districts of Budapest could apply for urban development actions. The aim of the competition was to establish new public domains, buildings that are open for everyone, and enhance public life. In the case of public domains, pedestrian, cyclist-friendly and smooth, barrier-free design has a vital role. 32 projects received support out of 42.

• Óbuda, Rákosmente and Csepel got the biggest part: all three districts gain half a billion forints of support.

• Erzsébetváros and Soroksár receive the least (about 60 million).

• Among the projects, the revitalization of the Holdudvar park in Óbuda gets the highest amount of money, 449 million forints.

• Kispest gets the short end of the stick, as out of the four suggestions only one is supported by the competition, and even that only with a decreased amount.

Let us take a look at the details of each district’s plans.

District I

The municipality of Budavár would like to renew the Batthyány square. This issue has been at stake for 7 years, and – according to the description – they still stick to this plan. The point is to create pedestrian squares accommodating to the sight of the monuments, to decrease the area of the bus round, and to make the edges of the square more permeable. Car traffic would be banned from the area of the church, the motorway would be raised to the level of the pavement on Fő street’s relevant section, and the “sunken” baroque buildings would be freed from the ditches surrounding them.

If a really good plan comes true, the neighborhood can only win by that. The estimated cost is HUF 1 billion, and TÉR_KÖZ would provide 270 million of it.

The district has another project – which is rather modest – in which a new lounge would be built in the place of the already existing waiting room in the Horváth-kert, and which – despite the heavy criticism – received the whole support of HUF 2 million. We keep thinking about the difference between a lounge and a waiting room.

District II

There are many green areas in this district, but there are not too many parks and playgrounds. This is what the renovation project of Adyliget park would solve, which is about developing the territories near the roundabout of Nagykovácsi street. Playground, roller-skate park, picnic spot and public toilet will be constructed, and the sports ground will also be renewed. The project got a slightly decreased support (235 million forints instead of 254), because the judges claimed that the educational path and the runway would not be viable near a main road. They are probably right about that.

District III

As mentioned above, one of Óbuda’s projects is the revitalization of the Holdudvar park, which gets the highest support of all the projects with its 449 million forints. The park itself is on a spot known by many, but it is still hidden: it is a green area surrounded by ten-story buildings, near the tram terminus at Bécsi street and Vörösvári street. The district would upgrade this area significantly, into which – due to the professionalism of the Óbuda-Békásmegyer City Development Ltd. – they would involve the local people, just like in the case of many other projects in Óbuda.

Nine meetings were held with the help of the greatly experienced New Direction group, and – according to the final plan – there will be a playground, a slide park, outdoor fitness park, table tennis and chess table, runway, promenade, stage and a public garden.

The renewal of Derű street park, not far from Flórián square, is not so costly: it gets 90 million forints. It is a much smaller territory, but there will be a sports ground, a playground, a runway, and an agility park for dogs. Three occasions were organized for planning.

District IV

Szilas park: The areas near Szilas-creek, at the “gates” of Káposztásmegyer, are under continuous improvement by the municipality. BMX track construction and green area advancement are in progress, and it is supported by the competition with 200 million forints.

Szigeti József boardwalk is a typical street for walking into the residential complex, but it is filled with parking cars. With 50 million forints of support from the project, a part of the street would get pedestrian function and would be renovated.

District V

With the help of TÉR_KÖZ program, one of the most dismal parts of the district, namely Podmaniczky square (also known as the metro station of Arany János street) would be renovated. Unfortunately, there are no blueprints about it, but according to the plans, the trolley round would be placed to Bajcsy-Zsilinszky street, and the streets around the square would be raised to the level of pedestrians, the cartridge plants – or bushes used as trash bins – would be replaced by trees, and this afforested public plaza would serve as a place for public events.