Karel Komárek Proměny Foundation: preparations for two restoration projects will continue

Having been shortlisted for the last selection round under the Parks grant program, projects aiming to restore the Central Park in Most and the Chateau Park in Ostrava-Poruba face prospects of receiving assistance from the Karel Komárek Proměny Foundation. Instead of the customary selection of a single finalist, the board of trustees has given a chance to both parks. Preparatory work done next year will be the decisive factor.

Selected from a total of 28 applications from all parts of the country, the two projects have passed through three evaluation rounds of the Parks grant program. The first round consisted of an initial assessment, in the second, the foundation visited the selected localities, and during the third round, municipal officials presented their projects before the foundation's board of trustees.

"We think that the plans for the Most and Poruba parks have many similarities. They both have a high potential as regards the localities themselves and community life attached to them. However, a detailed analysis has shown that both projects need more time before the first execution stage can begin, which includes preparing specifications for architects and participative planning. In view of that, the board of trustees has postponed by one year its decision on the award of assistance, which includes 25 million crowns in grants. In the meantime, we want to help the cities with the necessary preparatory work," explained Jitka Přerovská, Director of Karel Komárek Proměny Foundation, adding that the foundation will discuss further action separately with officials from Most and Poruba in the coming weeks.

The foundation's assistance for which applications have been made in response to the current invitation for proposals under the Parks program consists of as much as 25 million crowns in a grant and technical support during all stages of the selected multiyear public space restoration project. The process includes ongoing involvement of people from the local community and an architectural competition.