Editor's Note: These are courtesy translations of local news provided by the U.S. Army Garrison Poland Public Affairs team for the benefit the military community stationed here. Views or opinions are not endorsed by USAG Poland or the U.S. Army.

The first black panthers have arrived in Poznań

According to the polska-zbrojna.pl portal, the crews of the units that will receive the K2 tanks will begin training next year. They will be led by instructors from the Land Forces Training Center, who prepared, among others, in South Korea. So far, four vehicles have arrived in Poznań. " Technicians, under the supervision of servicemen from Korea, will check, among other things, the operation of all systems, including weapons, and replenish operating fluids. The equipment must also be entered into the register, " says Lt. Col. Maciej Łukarski, commander of the combat vehicle battalion at CSWL, in an interview with the industry portal. This may last until the end of the year, after which the courses will start. "In the case of the Abrams, we conduct two types of courses - for the crews themselves and for technical service members. It will be different here. We will take care of preparing the crews, while the technicians will be prepared for service by the Logistics Training Center in Grudziądz," explains Lt. Col. Łukarski.

In total, a dozen or so such tanks are to be delivered to Poznań. Specialists from Hyundai Rotem, delegated to Poznań, will continue to provide technical support for the vehicles for some time.

The K2 tank is one of the latest acquisitions of the Polish Army, ordered in the amount of 180 units by the Ministry of Defense. So far, several dozen units have reached Poland.

Local Trends Forum in Poznań

The Local Trends Forum has begun in Poznań. For two days, local government officials from all over Poland will discuss the key challenges facing municipalities on the eve of the upcoming Polish presidency of the European Union.

I am very glad that we can talk in Poznań about local government, its future and problems, especially in the context of the 20th anniversary of our presence in the EU - said Marek Woźniak, Marshal of the Wielkopolska Province, ceremonially opening the event. - This is an opportunity to sum up the past 20 years. They were a success - and we need to talk about it loudly. A success not only of Poland, but also of the EU, which has become a stronger player on the global forum.

This year's European Local Government Forum Local Trends takes place on October 14-15, at the Poznań Congress Center on the grounds of the Poznań International Fair, where local government officials from all over Poland came. Once again, key topics and challenges facing Polish municipalities will be discussed, as well as trends, opportunities and barriers to development.

We have a very difficult 4 years behind us, during which we solved many problems together - said Jacek Jaśkowiak, the mayor of Poznań. - The pandemic and the challenges related to it, the war in Ukraine, even the recent events in Lower Silesia have shown that we can cooperate at the local government level and help each other. Today, times are still difficult: the war continues beyond our borders. However, we have a partner in the government who understands what local government is. I believe that together we will manage to work out solutions that are good for our residents.

"20 years in the EU: For the cohesion of Polish cities and regions" is the slogan that guides the autumn edition of Local Trends. That is why the event was inaugurated by a discussion session on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Wielkopolska in the European Union. Among the special guests taking part in it was Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President of the Republic of Poland in the years 1995-2005.

It is something phenomenal that only 11 months after the June elections in 1989, fully democratic elections to local government took place in Poland - said Aleksander Kwaśniewski during the opening session of Local Trends. - It is local government that lies at the source of Polish democracy. Poland would not be democratic if we had not focused on local government from the very beginning, on the strength of local communities.

Adam Szłapka, Minister for European Union Affairs, also spoke during the Forum.

Poland has changed enormously over the 20 years of its presence in the European Union - the minister emphasized. - This can be seen in the numbers: a six-fold increase in exports to EU member states, a three-fold increase in nominal GDP in Poland and a four-fold increase per capita. Today, we live in a completely different reality, a completely different country. We have something to celebrate.

GreenCities and cities of the future

The program of the 4th edition of Local Trends - European Local Government Forum includes 8 plenary sessions and nearly 40 parallel meetings. Representatives of the government, local governments, business and science will discuss the perspectives and role of cohesion policy in the sustainable development of Polish cities and regions for two days. They will also discuss topics related to urban technologies of the future and the issue of climate change.

The program also includes a debate on metropolitan strategies and the development of functional areas of inter-municipal associations. Local government officials will also talk about digital transformation and cooperation between Poland and Ukraine. The event will be crowned with a summary session with the participation of experts from national local government corporations.

Additionally, as part of the programme of the European Local Government Forum, initiatives such as the Urban Development Forum, the Youth City Councils Forum and the Senior Policy Forum have been planned.

Interactive exhibition on ecology in Poznań

What to do to save up to 700 liters of water per week? How to give up plastic and thus save up to a thousand złoty per year in your wallet? How to catch "energy vampires" and effectively save electricity? Answers to these and many other questions await at the Malta Training and Conference Center in Poznań, where you can visit the EkoEksperymentarium - an interactive exhibition about everyday ecology until November 22. Admission is free.

EkoEksperymentarium is an apartment where, through play and experience, we learn how to take care of the environment in our own homes. In the living room, we catch "energy vampires" that devour electricity. In the bathroom, we check how much water we can save by choosing a shower instead of a bathtub. In the kitchen, we share ways to cook less waste and learn how to properly segregate waste, and in the bedroom, we look through things and think about why it's worth having less of them. Through great fun, small and big explorers learn clever ways to be eco-friendly every day.

EkoEksperymentarium is an interactive exhibition during which participants can check for themselves what will happen if they lower the temperature at home or stop buying bottled water. At the exhibition, you can also compose your own breakfast and check how to reduce your carbon footprint by choosing local and seasonal products - says Małgosia Żmijska, curator of the exhibition from the Mamy Projekt collective. - In an apartment, arranged with intriguing illustrations by Paweł Szlotawa, we discuss important ecological issues and how we can take care of ourselves and the environment in our own home. It is difficult to change habits, it is no secret, so we suggest simple ways to be eco-friendly and make your life easier - she adds.

So far, the exhibition has been hosted in cities such as Gdynia, Wrocław, Warsaw, Bielsko-Biała, Kraków, Łódź, Wałbrzych, Kielce and Opole, where it has been seen by over 35,000 young and old eco-experimenters.

No one needs to be convinced that learning through experience brings the best results - says Katarzyna Kruszka-Pytlik, director of the Department of Municipal Economy at the Poznań City Hall, which is a co-organizer of the exhibition. - I am certain that the youngest, but also older residents of Poznań who visit the EkoEksperymentarium, will learn something new, discover something for themselves. I believe that this obvious and simple rule will also work here, that through inconspicuous changes we can contribute to greater responsibility for our planet. I hope that they will later transfer this knowledge to their own homes and apartments. They will make us more eco-friendly.

The exhibition is part of the EkoEksperymentarium educational project, consisting of a portal with games and interactive lessons about climate for young people ( ekoeksperymentarium.pl ).

The EcoExperimentarium program effectively reaches Polish schools and kindergartens, and now we invite entire families to eco-fun, who will discover through experience how to change everyday habits and take care of the planet at the exhibition. We know that climate education is currently one of the most important challenges and each of us is looking for proven information on, for example, proper waste segregation or saving resources. At the exhibition, we provide expert knowledge in an accessible way, so everyone will quickly understand what to do so as not to harm the environment - emphasizes Magda Derdończyk from the Mamy Projekt collective.

The exhibition opened on Wednesday, October 9th at the Malta Training and Conference Centre (Room E2) at 3 Wiankowa Street. It will be open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m., for school groups (link to registration ) and for individuals and families on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (no registration required). The tour is accompanied by a guide-educator. The exhibition will be available for a month and a half, until November 22. Admission is free.

More and more greenery instead of cobblestones

Greenery is constantly growing in Poznań. This is happening not only as part of the implementation of new investments, but also thanks to the paving of existing streets. Thanks to this, new vegetation has appeared on over 26 thousand square meters of surface over the last few years. The city has obtained almost PLN 24 million in funding from the European Union for further such activities.

Such activities are particularly valuable and noticeable in the city centre, where dense development and underground infrastructure do not leave much space for trees and shrubs - emphasises Mariusz Wiśniewski, deputy mayor of the city. - New vegetation is planted in areas that are not used by pedestrians, drivers or cyclists. These are often wide pavements, once blocked by cars, or sections of the roadway not used by vehicles. In this reclaimed space so new plantings appear. A great example of such action is the area at the junction of Kassyusza and Galla Anonima streets, where a pocket park was created in this way.

For a dozen or so years, the Municipal Roads Authority has been consistently preparing and implementing projects for the development of greenery on Poznań streets. Plants are planted in existing green belts as well as in new places that can be created along the streets thanks to the resurfacing of hardened surfaces.

The demolitions concern densely built-up areas, i.e. primarily the Old Town, Jeżyce, Wilda, Łazarz and Śródka.

Thanks to such investments, the safety of all road users and the aesthetics of the area are improved. Residents gain new greenery and a better microclimate on the street. Rainwater retention is also improved - says Piotr Libicki, deputy director of ZDM in Poznań. - Pavement removal is usually carried out together with the renovation of their surface. Creating them on areas excluded from traffic - i.e. on parts of the roadway marked with characteristic stripes - is associated with the need to prepare design documentation related to the reconstruction of a given section of the street, changing the geometry and often also the organization of traffic.

In Jeżyce and in the center

Currently, such works are underway at the intersection of Sienkiewicza, Gajowa and Kochanowskiego streets in Jeżyce. The wide roadway will be narrowed there, and unused spaces will be planted. Thanks to this, the asphalt square with an area of ​​over 100 square meters will be transformed into a green square with small architecture. Three plane trees, about 300 shrubs, almost 400 perennials and ornamental grasses, as well as over 2,000 bulbous plants will be planted.

Construction work is to last until the end of October, while planting greenery will be completed by mid-November. The total cost of the investment is almost PLN 900,000. The project financing was provided thanks to budget amendments by city councilors, as well as the support of the Jeżyce Housing Estate Council.

In the Old Town 

Changes in the center will occur near the intersection of Kościuszki, Taylor and Taczaka streets. Technical documentation for the reconstruction of this place is ready (along with the necessary permits). The city budget also provides almost PLN 3 million for implementation.

Fieldwork is planned for next year. The extensive intersection will be rebuilt in such a way as to ensure efficient vehicle traffic, safe pedestrian movement and to designate biologically active areas for new trees and shrubs. Greenery will appear at all intersection entries and along Taylor Street, on the section reaching the intersection with Kościuszki Street. 12 trees will be planted (including plane trees and ginkgo trees), shrubs - almost 150 roses, hydrangeas and Buddleia Davidii and over 300 perennials (including catnip, perovskia, Chinese miscanthus) and bulbous plants (ornamental garlic and hyacinths).

The intersection itself will be raised to calm traffic and ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing the road.

A rest area has been designed at Taylor Street, the form of which refers to the existing and recently modernized Wojciech Cieślewicz Square (on the other side of the intersection, at Taczaka Street).

On Łazarz and Wilda

By the end of the year, along with the necessary permits, technical documentation for the modernization of the intersection of Małeckiego, Graniczna and Łukaszewicza streets, i.e. the popular Eki z Małeki square, should be ready. It is being created on the basis of the concept and public consultations that took place in 2019 and 2020.

The project involves the reconstruction of the road system and the existing square, in order to create a friendly space for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The square will cover the entire area between Małeckiego and Graniczna streets and the frontages of tenement houses on the side of Łazarski Market and Strusia Street. The area created in this way will be developed with greenery and pedestrian infrastructure (small architecture and sidewalks).

The project involves planting 16 trees, over 400 shrubs (including roses, buddleia davidii, hydrangeas) and over 1,000 different species of perennials. In this way, over 500 square meters of biologically active area will be created.

The intersection of Fabryczna Street with Prądzyńskiego and Madalińskiego Streets in Wilda also requires reconstruction. A few years ago, a new traffic organization was introduced here, as part of the introduction of a paid parking zone. The wide roadway was then narrowed. New horizontal markings were painted and posts and bicycle racks were installed. These actions organized parking and improved safety, but left wide, concreted spaces unused by road users.

The project involves changing the geometry of the intersection, rebuilding sections of the sidewalks, creating a new location for the Hop & Go point, and designating wide lanes with new vegetation at all entrances - previously unused spaces on the roadway will be planted with greenery.

The EU is crushing concrete

We have acquired almost PLN 24 million for green infrastructure development activities. As part of Integrated Territorial Investments, park revalorisation projects and square modernisations will receive almost PLN 10 million in funding. Thanks to this, the City of Poznań will also eliminate hard surfaces in the area of ​​five educational institutions - emphasises Grzegorz Kamiński, director of the Office of Project Coordination and City Revitalisation. - In turn, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management awarded the capital of Wielkopolska PLN 14 million in funding. In the case of our city, the competition was won by a project involving the restoration of green areas. This will happen, among others, at the former Szyca stadium, the General Education School Complex No. 33 on Wyspiańskiego Street and at the site of the former concrete model of Rataj near the Queen Jadwiga Bridge.

PLN 10 million obtained from the European Union will be allocated for the construction or modernization of squares at the streets: Burszty, Chłodna, Norwida, Widnej, św. Wawrzyńca, at the intersection of Kosińskiego and Prądzyńskiego streets, between Księżycowa and Grunwaldzka streets, as well as the area between Wiatraczna and Krzywoustego streets. In turn, the school playing fields will be resurfaced at Primary Schools: No. 77, No. 11, No. 20 and No. 82. Old asphalt or concrete will be replaced there with a surface that allows water to pass through, and additionally, diversified greenery will be introduced at the playing fields.

Another PLN 14 million in funding comes from an EU program that supports infrastructure development, as well as climate and environmental actions. Thanks to these funds, the areas will be returned to residents and will gain a new recreational and leisure function.

Changes will take place in the area connecting the existing Righteous Among the Nations Square (located at the intersection of ul. Dolna Wilda and Królowej Jadwigi) with St. John Paul II Park. A green corridor will be created there, enabling passage from the former stadium into the city center. The main attraction of this place will be an area with numerous flowering plants and places for recreation and rest. The biologically active area will increase, which will significantly improve living conditions in the city. Retention and infiltration basins fed by rainwater are also planned.

EU funding was also received for the development project of the area at the Complex of General Education Schools No. 33 at Wyspiańskiego Street in Poznań's Łazarz district. The courtyard in front of the building was covered with asphalt. Now it is being replaced by greenery. The project also includes the creation of an internal irrigation system, i.e. small retention, and the installation of lighting and small architecture. An interesting space for the youngest will be created at the school, while supporting biodiversity. A sensory garden will be created there - with shrubs and perennials, a colorful surface made of various materials and plant boxes enabling sensory education. Implementation work is already underway.

The city of Poznań also received funding for the liquidation of degraded asphalt remains of the former Rataj model on the Piastowski housing estate, in the Park nad Wartą. The project includes the preparation of documentation, along with obtaining the necessary permits and carrying out construction works. The planned investment assumes the creation of a new attractive park space with new plantings. Greenery is not everything. In the place of the former model, retention ponds are also to be created, periodically filled with water.