The leadership of Prague has rejected the construction in the gardens at Petřín for the second time

Prague - The capital city has not yet allowed the construction of a service building and public toilets in the Strahov Gardens on Petřín for approximately 16 million crowns. The councilors today failed to agree for the second consecutive time on the approval of the press, which was supposed to confirm the selection of a construction company. A portion of the local residents protests against the plan, disapproving of the intended access to the vineyard and the construction of a new entrance from Úvoz street leading from Nerudova street to Pohořelec. According to the residents, this would open up a previously quiet part of the gardens to tourist traffic.

New toilets and a maintenance facility are set to be built in the Strahov Garden on the site of wooden structures demolished in 2015. Initially, the city wanted to construct a larger building with an information center there, but it backed down from that and, in 2016, built a rest area with a drinking fountain and a bench. Now, the city's green care department wants to complement the area with a small facility containing public restrooms and smaller maintenance support.

Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) stated today after the council meeting that he wants to address the petition rejecting the construction, which has been sent to the municipality by local associations, before discussing the project. "It should first be processed in a standard manner before the project itself is approved," he said. The petition received by the municipality is being discussed by the council.

The plan is unpopular with neighborhood associations, who argue it is one of the few places in the city center that has not yet been overwhelmed by tourist traffic and where local residents can still relax. "Tourists are unaware of it; it's inconvenient to get there, and there's nothing particularly interesting. It's just a forest or an orchard. However, for us, it has enormous value,” said Jana Titlbachová from the Hradčanské včely association. The Petřín for Life and Petřín Initiative associations have formed in opposition to the municipality's plan, gathering a petition rejecting the proposed changes.

The construction above Vlašská street would, according to locals, disrupt the view that Jaroslav Seifert referred to in a letter to the racing driver Eliška Junková as the most beautiful view of Prague. In the past, the municipality claimed that the building would be partially sunk into the terrain and designed so as not to disturb the view from the upper part of the garden.

The associations also dislike another planned project by the city to modify and open up the vineyard, which, according to previous statements from the municipality, is meant to operationally and visually connect the Great Strahov Garden into a single whole. Locals, however, argue that this would disrupt the greenery, the local natural habitat, and the serene atmosphere of the place. According to them, the municipality has also not consulted residents about the modifications.

The planned steps are meant to build on previous modifications to Petřín. The city constructed restrooms near the observation tower two years ago, and last year paths around the Petřín landmark were renovated and new furniture was installed. The Great Strahov Garden near Strahov Monastery was established in the early Middle Ages as a utility garden. Its area is 11 hectares. It was connected to the Petřín Gardens in 2016.