Čelákovice has launched the revitalization of the square for 49 million crowns

Čelákovice (near Prague) - Today, in Čelákovice near Prague, the revitalization of the square began with the laying of the foundation stone, which will restore its function as the center of the town. The investment will amount to nearly 49 million crowns, with the city receiving a subsidy from the EU of more than 21 million crowns, said city spokesperson Petra Kolenská to ČTK. The revitalization is expected to be completed by the end of July next year.
The project to renew the square has been prepared by Čelákovice for several years, and last year the city managed to obtain a grant from the Regional Operational Program of the Central Bohemia Region, as well as the necessary building permits. The contractor for the project will be the company Metrostav, which won the tender in June.
The opening today was attended by the city mayor and also the governor of the Central Bohemian Region, David Rath. "The Čelákovice square has been a thoroughfare for several decades, which certainly does not fulfill its natural function as the center of the town," said mayor Josef Pátek.
The revitalization is set to be completed by July 31, 2012. The city leadership believes that the work schedule should not be significantly altered by the necessary archaeological rescue work. "The archaeologists have a very good idea of what to expect," Pátek said. Archaeologists anticipate discovering original residential buildings in the eastern part of the square.
The square, which was last renovated during the First Republic, will undergo a complete transformation. The main thoroughfare will be relocated further south, and a pedestrian promenade will be created in the central part. It will also include water features, a fountain, and a flow-through canal with a water cascade representing the Elbe River, on which the town of Čelákovice is located. The new square will also feature a variety of relaxation areas and extensive park modifications.
The city is currently addressing the traffic restrictions that the construction will incur. "We are trying to maintain the passability of the main thoroughfare as much as possible and not overload the residential areas around the square. We will only use a complete closure of the square for the absolutely necessary time," stated the mayor of Čelákovice.