The representatives of Prague debated about the restroom at Petřín

Prague - Representatives of the Prague coalition of the Pirates, Prague Sobě, and the United Forces for Prague (TOP 09 and STAN) faced criticism from residents of Prague 1 and the opposition during today's city council meeting regarding the plan to build restrooms with maintenance facilities in the Strahov Gardens. The councilors acknowledged a petition against tree cutting and the construction in Petřín, which was signed by over 2000 people. Officials from the city hall rejected the criticism of the project, stating that it is sensitive.

The plan includes the construction of a two-story building for garden facilities. Public restrooms will be located on the ground floor. The building will be partially embedded in the terrain. A new viewpoint with seating is proposed between the building and the entrance gate from Vlašská Street. Against the city hall's proposal, the Petřín for Life and Petřín Initiative groups have emerged. They oppose the idea that the area, which has been almost untouched by tourists so far, will attract their attention, resulting in locals losing one of the few places in the city center where they can relax. In addition to today's discussed petition, another one has been created, which the councilors are expected to address in the future.

Petition representative Lucie Crocro stated that Petřín is unique from a natural science perspective and is home to protected species. "It is an area with the highest possible monument protection in the country," she reminded. According to her, just 200 meters from the planned construction, there are two unused restrooms that only need repairs, and there are more nearby in Strahov Monastery and on Pohořelec.

Another representative of the residents, Petra Pětioká, stated that locals have already been pushed out of other places in the center of Prague, such as Kampa, where there are tourists, excrement, and homeless people. "In the last two months, two homeless people actually died there," Pětioká said. According to her, Petřín is one of the last places where residents of the city center can peacefully relax. The petitioners called on the city hall to halt the project and discuss how to proceed further.

Dan Frantík, head of the city's green care department, responded to the criticism by stating that the project had been discussed seven times with the National Heritage Institute. "We believe that there should be some facilities in the park, and we consider restrooms to be standard," he stated. He added that the location was chosen from several options based on consultations with heritage conservationists.

Frantík also mentioned that the construction will have an area of 51 square meters, whereas the original building that the city had demolished a few years ago had an area of 130 square meters. According to the official, the green care department also had a biological survey conducted. "No particularly protected species were found in this area," he said.

In the discussion, it was also mentioned that the project is insensitive to greenery, and the city hall plans to "fell the forest" on Petřín. "That forest is one pear tree," commented councilor Jana Plamínková (STAN), who was responsible for the project in the previous electoral term. The mayor's deputy Petr Hlubuček (STAN) stated that the Prague 1 town hall also expressed consent to the plan through a resolution.

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.