Three concepts for transforming parts of Rzeszów city center and community-based city design

In May 2025, Pracownia Zmiany, together with Strefa Działań Miejskich and local activists and residents of Rzeszów, started a process to design three public spaces in the city center. The work was preceded by workshops and research walks during which residents pointed out areas that need change. The grassroots nature of the project, based on defining problems together, made it possible to create concepts that respond to today’s urban challenges. The selected locations are a section of Bernardyńska Street, the area of the Lubomirski Castle moat, and the surroundings of the Rzeszów Staroniwa railway station. All three places share unused potential and can play an important role in building a safe, green, and people-friendly city.

The concept for Bernardyńska Street comes from its current layout and from the fact that there is a primary school there. It is a dead-end street next to an existing pedestrian zone and is often used for parking and turning cars around. This creates real danger for pedestrians, especially children and older people. The proposed change into a school street introduces clear rules for how the space is used and gives clear priority to people on foot.

Near the school entrance, the design includes a shared street area with trees, low plants, and small street furniture that creates a friendly space for users. The rest of the street would work as a one-way street with calm traffic. This would reduce the number of cars and strengthen walking links with nearby public spaces. Thanks to this, Bernardyńska Street would become part of a larger network of pedestrian routes, in line with modern ideas of safe and accessible city streets.

A key element of this concept is the school street solution, known from many European cities. It limits car traffic near schools and organizes space so that pedestrians come first. Such changes improve safety, reduce noise and air pollution, and encourage people to walk, cycle, or use scooters. The transformation of Bernardyńska Street fits well with the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, which aims to improve safety and reduce car traffic in the city center.

The moat revitalization project plans to create a green area for rest and leisure. Diverse plants, bushes, flowers, and elements that support small animals turn the moat into a place to relax and connect with nature. Greenery improves not only how the area looks, but also helps cool the space in summer.

On part of the moat slope, the design includes wooden steps and seating. They offer a place to rest during walks and can also be used during small events, such as concerts. The moat becomes a calm space for rest, nature, and views of nearby historic buildings. It complements the more active space of the multimedia fountain located on the other side of the embankments. A balance between different types of activities is important for quality of life in this part of Rzeszów.

Next to the moat, the project proposes changing Aleja Pod Kasztanami into a pedestrian promenade without parking spaces. Adding low greenery, flowers, and bushes strengthens the feeling of this historic avenue as a place for walking and rest. Removing car traffic helps bring back its original character.

The most complex concept concerns the area of the Rzeszów Staroniwa railway station, whose spatial and historic value has long been unused. The project proposes a city square with services, including food places, and space for social and cultural activities. The historic station buildings would regain a public role, and the area would become a shared meeting place for two neighborhoods located on both sides of the railway line.

A key part of the concept is a pedestrian and bicycle tunnel connecting Wyspiańskiego Street and ks. Józefa Sondeja Street. It would give residents direct access to the station and a fast connection to the city center. Thanks to this, the station area would become an important daily mobility point, in line with modern urban ideas based on short travel distances and linking different types of transport.

The project also includes a multimodal hub connecting local trains, buses, and cycling. This idea refers to earlier proposals by Professor Maciej Piekarski from Rzeszów University of Technology, who pointed to Rzeszów Staroniwa station as a natural place for such integration. The city square would also include a memorial to people who were deported from this place to the Bełżec concentration camp during World War II. The concept combines city functions with the historical memory of the site.

The project is an alternative to a planned car overpass in this area, which would threaten cultural heritage and the quality of life of residents who oppose this investment. The proposed concept shows that public space can connect communities instead of dividing them.

In November 2025, the concepts were presented during an open meeting in Rzeszów. The room was full, and the discussion was wide and meaningful. City officials present at the meeting declared readiness to take action, including creating the school street on Bernardyńska Street and changing traffic organization near the moat. The meeting confirmed the importance of community involvement in design processes and showed the growing role of public dialogue in shaping city policies. Participants also declared further involvement and readiness to monitor the announced actions.

The workshops and field analyses were led by Barbara Jędrzejczyk and Marcel Świerkocki. The design work was prepared by Julianna Skuz. The whole concept process was coordinated by Barbara Jędrzejczyk together with Julianna Skuz and the local Rzeszów team, which included Paweł Kraus, Rafał Piela, and Bartłomiej Kwasek from Strefa Działań Miejskich, who were actively involved in developing the solutions together.