Informacje [ENG]

Kędzierzyn-Koźle is implementing a project aimed at improving residents’ quality of life through investment in safety, sustainable mobility and infrastructure development. The initiatives include the modernisation of public spaces, the development of renewable energy sources, the construction of walking and cycling routes, and support for older people, people with disabilities and those in difficult life circumstances. The programme also promotes youth engagement, social integration and civic participation, creating a greener, safer and more inclusive urban environment.

• PROJECT TITLE

ReGeneration of Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Social, environmental and cultural initiatives for the development of the ‘Young City’.

• BUDGET

81,941,369.00 PLN.

• PARTNERS

Kędzierzyn-Koźle District.

• IMPLEMENTING BODIES

Kędzierzyn-Koźle District Police Headquarters, Kędzierzyn-Koźle State Fire Service Headquarters, Kędzierzyn-Koźle Municipal Social Welfare Centre, Kędzierzyn-Koźle Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre, the Municipal Public Library in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, the Municipal Cultural Centre in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, the ‘Promyczek’ Community Self-Help Centre in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, the Education and Upbringing Board in Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Kędzierzyn-Koźle Town Hall.

The third challenge is the environment – for years, this has been the most talked-about issue among residents. The city’s deeply entrenched industrial character provides employment, but at the same time creates a negative image of the city, which is associated primarily with poor air quality and health risks. These concerns are exacerbated by memories of past environmental disasters and a lack of faith that industry and a clean environment can coexist.

These three dimensions – depopulation, weak social cohesion and environmental pressure – paint a collective picture of a town that needs a fresh impetus to retain its residents, attract young people and restore a sense of community. Kędzierzyn-Koźle wants to transform its image from a city ‘for work’ into a city ‘for living’, where the activity, dialogue and safety of its residents form the basis for development. The project, for which the local authority is seeking funding, is intended to address precisely these key, systemic issues.

• ACTIVITIES

The Swiss Funds are intended to help transform Kędzierzyn-Koźle into an even better place to live: with access to housing, stable employment, good healthcare and modern, safe transport. The project is ambitious and comprehensive. It encompasses measures across no fewer than 11 areas, which complement one another:

1. Looking after those we protect and those who protect us (OT 4): Firefighters will be provided with equipment for operations in chemical hazard zones and a laundry facility for protective clothing. The police will roll out the ‘Cycling Licence 2.0’ programme, a road safety village and educational campaigns, whilst patrols will be supported by a new vehicle. The city will improve lighting and monitor the Planty and the park, thereby enhancing safety.
2. Energy transition (OT 5): The modernisation of buildings, particularly schools and nurseries, will improve comfort and reduce CO₂ emissions. The Fire Service will have a solar panel installation installed, reducing emissions by over 680 tonnes. These investments will ensure cleaner air and cheaper energy.
3. Residents on bikes (OT 6): The expansion of cycle paths will improve connections between housing estates and access to Kozielska Island. This will be accompanied by educational initiatives and cooperation with the police.
4. Green initiatives on the city’s streets (OT 6): An architectural competition for the redevelopment of Głowackiego Street will create a green, safe pedestrian and cycle route. New pedestrian and cycle routes will be built, along with road links to divert traffic away from the city centre. The city will invest in bus stops and electric buses.
5. Green on the ground, on rooftops, in our pockets and in our minds (OT 9): Creating public squares, pocket parks and green roofs will boost biodiversity and mitigate the effects of heatwaves. Modernising educational and cultural spaces will ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.
6. The Declining Youth Population (OT 10): Schools will be equipped with therapy rooms, inclusion rooms and diagnostic tools. Teachers will receive training, and the project will establish a psychological support system for young people.
7. Silver Tsunami (OT 10): A programme providing free rehabilitation, care and social integration. The expansion of Day Support Centres and Senior Citizens’ Clubs will improve the activity levels and safety of older people.
8. Able-bodied participants in cultural and sporting activities (OT 11): A Social Services Centre is to be established. The city will organise inclusive athletics meets, dance and pottery workshops, and Polish-Ukrainian artistic projects.
9. Included and Excluded (OT 11): A support programme for people at risk of exclusion: people with disabilities, older people, migrants and the homeless. New transport services, workshops and technologies will enhance independence and access to services.
10. A culture of dialogue in civil society (OT 12): Development of the Municipal Senior Citizens’ Centre and the Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations. Workshops, picnics, sports clubs, modernisation of the bowling alley and sports tracks. A mobile app will be developed to facilitate contact with residents, alongside training courses and study visits.
11. SIGMA and PI. A Young and Active City (OT 12): Creating a Youth Enclave and the SIGMA program to support student projects. Grants for NGOs, neighborhood councils, and resident groups will enable the implementation of ideas and the development of civic competencies.

• RESULTS

ReGeneracja Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a comprehensive process of social, health, and spatial transformation that addresses the challenges of societal transformation and an aging population. The project introduces new health and social services, including psychological support for youth, comprehensive care for seniors, and integration activities for disadvantaged groups. Spaces for meetings and activities are being created—the Sigma Club for young people, local forums for civic dialogue, and places for neighborhood integration. The expansion of green spaces, bike paths, and eco-friendly transportation improves the quality of the environment. These initiatives increase resident participation, build social bonds and a sense of community, and strengthen the capabilities of local officials and institutions. ReGeneracja combines a commitment to health, the environment, and community, creating a city that is more accessible, integrated, and welcoming to all residents.

A website run by the Municipality of Kędzierzyn-Koźle, which is implementing a project co-financed by the Swiss Funds, which support the reduction of economic and social disparities within the European Union, and by the state budget.