In Brno, the long-prepared renovation of the Zelný trh will begin next year

Brno - In Brno, the reconstruction of one of the four main squares - Zelný trh - should begin next year after several years of preparation. The city councilors approved the final adjustments to the project today. They want more parking spaces and a relaxation zone in front of the Moravian Museum. A high number of parked cars was criticized by Brno residents in a survey four years ago as the main issue that bothers them in Zelný trh. However, according to the mayor's assistant Robert Kotzian (ODS), the situation in this respect will improve after the renovation compared to today. He said this to journalists today.
Legally, there are currently 34 marked parking spaces in Zelný trh. However, according to the municipal secretary Pavel Loutocký, there are usually more cars parked there. There will be 39 parking spaces in the square. Originally, the shortage of parking spaces was supposed to be resolved by an underground garage that a private investor wanted to build in the square. However, the idea was ultimately not implemented. It sparked a wave of discontent; opponents were concerned about damaging the Baroque fountain Parnas, the valuable historical cellar from which Brno is now building one of its top tourist attractions, as well as damaging the appearance of the square.
Another current change in the project approved by the council concerns interactive play elements. There will be none in the square, but according to Kotzian, builders will place a drinking water source instead. "It will allow people to wash and refresh themselves with the fruit bought immediately in the square," said the assistant. The water source is to be located precisely in the part of the square in front of the Moravian Museum.
Fruit has been sold in Zelný trh for 700 years. The square's renovation is to build on this tradition. However, the stalls are to be arranged differently so that they do not obstruct people who just want to pass through or have come to see the sights. The stalls will consist of a collapsible aluminum structure covered with tropical wood, and a square umbrella will be able to be placed in the middle. The construction was designed by architects so that it can be easily dismantled and the stalls removed.
The city has been planning the transformation of Zelný trh for a long time; in 2007, it even commissioned a survey to understand how people perceive the square. Most praised its fountain, markets, "bustle" and the typical noise that gives the square its specific atmosphere. When asked what bothers people most about the market, three out of four respondents pointed directly to parked cars.