Ostrava wants to gradually improve the appearance of one of its main streets; it has a concept for that

Ostrava – Ostrava wants to gradually improve the appearance of the 28th October Boulevard - Opavská, the city councilors approved the concept of changes today. From the two adjoining streets that together form a twelve-kilometer boulevard, a modern boulevard with quality public space is to emerge. The concept provides a guide for this. Deputy Mayor Hana Tichánková (ANO) and Ondřej Vysloužil, the director of the City Studio for Spatial Planning and Architecture (MAPPA), who prepared the document, stated this to journalists. The concept is not legally binding for investors, but Vysloužil still expects them to work with it.

The 28th October Street and Opavská together form one of the main city arteries, starting at the tank near the Sýkora Bridge in Silesian Ostrava and ending at the Globus hypermarket on the border of Poruba and Plesná. It traverses nine districts, with around 80,000 people moving through there daily, and nearly 40 percent of the city's investments are directed to the area. "It's essentially a plan for the modernization and revitalization of the entire urban boulevard. It is a significant part of Ostrava, and the whole boulevard could transform into a modern promenade enjoyable not only for cars and public transport but especially for residents, pedestrians, and cyclists," Tichánková stated.

She added that currently, the boulevard is inconsistent and looks different in each section. "Through gradual steps, it could reach a point where it has a unified character and appearance, making it friendlier for visitors," the deputy mayor said. The boulevard is now divided into 22 sections, and with future investments, those conducting them should rely on the parameters set out in the concept. "The implementation will of course take place gradually, according to how individual investment projects arise, whether from the city, districts, or possibly private investors who will have this concept at their disposal and should follow it," Tichánková added.

The document consists of three parts, each following a different scale and timeframe. The first part presents a long-term plan and significant interventions. This includes changing the arrangement of the street profile so that pedestrians have a sufficiently wide sidewalk and cyclists have their space separated from motor traffic. It also defines development areas that Ostrava should address in more detail. The second part of the document divides the urban boulevard into 22 sections, which are parts of the street that are or should be the same. This should serve as a basis for the city districts when planning investments. The third part, called the Public Space Manual, will assist in the creation of smaller investments and minor adjustments that can change the appearance and functionality of the streets in a short time.

"Through this document, we have actually prepared some vision for the self-government on how the area should look. It is a very important public space, and there are many significant buildings on it. Therefore, we must know how it should look in the future, so it is nice. To ensure that things do not happen uncoordinatedly, because various repairs and adjustments are made by different actors, we want them to have unified notes and be able to gradually synchronize," Vysloužil described.