The parking lot at Malostranské náměstí is to disappear by July 1, 2016

Prague - The existing parking lot at Prague's Malostranské náměstí is set to disappear by July 1, 2016. This was stated by Deputy Mayor Petr Dolínek (CSSD) to ČTK. The Technical Road Administration (TSK) will terminate the parking lot lease in the coming weeks. Prague is preparing a complete reconstruction of the square. When this will happen exactly is still unclear, as the magistrate is finalizing the regeneration study.
"I assigned TSK the task of terminating the contract. There is a three-month notice period in the lease, so it will be done by July. Malostranské náměstí is a historical gem, not a parking lot," said Dolínek.
With the changes, Prague 1 and its residents will be able to host various events, including markets, in the square. One way to revitalize the space is also the placement of tables and chairs - the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), along with Mayor Adriana Krnáčová, recently proposed a project to place tables and chairs in the streets.
Prague is also planning a total revitalization of the square. Currently, the municipal department of technical equipment is completing the regeneration study, which will subsequently be submitted for approval to the Prague councilors. "Based on this, a decision will be made on the next steps," stated magistrate spokesperson Vít Hofman, adding that the magistrate is also addressing issues like the transfer of funds for investments in the renewal.
In recent days, some MPs have protested against the cancellation of the parking lot. It is indeed politicians from the Chamber of Deputies who use this parking area. According to Dolínek, however, the parking lot will disappear despite their protests. "We have arranged a meeting where representatives of Prague, the Prague 1 town hall, IPR, and the Chamber of Deputies will meet to discuss MPs' parking," Dolínek said.
Prague is planning a total reconstruction of the square. A professional jury already selected the winning design by architects Martin Hájek, Václav Hájek, and Petr Horský in the international architectural competition in September 2014. The architects unite the square's space, reduce the number of parking spaces, and add seating, along with a place for sculptural art and a fountain. They also change the placement of roads and tram tracks.
By announcing the competition, the city responded to public pressure from those dissatisfied with the current appearance of the square. They particularly disagree with the fact that this ancient site under Prague Castle serves as a parking lot. Locals even drafted a petition, collecting over 5000 signatures.