Opava repaired the arcades in Dvořákovy Sady, creating a new relaxation area

Opava - The city of Opava has completed the reconstruction of the arcades in Dvořákovy sady. From a summer neglected place, where homeless people stayed, it has become a relaxation area where the city wants to organize cultural events. The repair cost nearly three million crowns. Opava's mayor Tomáš Navrátil said this to ČTK today.

"For a long time, the condition here was deplorable; in fact, only homeless people lingered here. It smelled bad here, not many people approached, and when someone walked by, they would rather quicken their pace to avoid lingering by this place," described the state of the arcades before the renovation by the mayor. According to him, the public had long called for the repair of the arcades.

"We initially wanted to make basic repairs, meaning some coating and roof repairs. However, during the realization, we found out that deeper repairs also needed to be made. The base slab was repaired, and the entire roof also had to be fixed. It couldn't just be clad; a completely new roof had to be made," said Navrátil.

The town also had the public space around the arcades arranged and paved. The building also has new lighting. "It wasn't originally in the plan; we wanted to only install the utilities, but since we had it prepared, we did it all at once," said the mayor. A police camera has also been installed in the area.

"We want it to be a lively public space, which means not only public events like exhibitions and the like, but also for people to linger here during the day," said Navrátil. According to him, a small café or kiosk should be created near the arcades so that the place truly becomes a relaxation zone even on regular days.

The arcades have belonged to the city since 2017. Previously, they were part of the parish garden of the Order of German Knights. The city wants to organize exhibitions, concerts, or smaller theatrical performances there.

The first event that started today in the arcades is an exhibition of comics by Lucie Seifert titled "Gregor Johann Mendel and the Painful Story of Genes" to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the founder of genetics. Mendel, who was born in Hynčice, now part of Vražné in the Nový Jičín region, spent part of his studies in Opava.