The Vilnius Development Company, responsible for implementing the project, has completed the public procurement procedures for construction works – a contract has been signed with UAB “Skominta”, which will carry out the works for 0.89 million euros including VAT.
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In Karoliniškės, near the Kaklaraiščiai Bridge, it is planned to arrange a 0.97 ha area. At first glance, this place may seem unremarkable – it is surrounded by a noisy bypass, wild paths wind through it, and meadows are overgrown with spontaneous plants. However, the place is already popular with residents for walking and running. Due to insufficiently developed infrastructure, the area has not yet realized its full potential.
“It is important for city residents to have as many quality public spaces as possible near their homes. The slopes of Karoliniškės will become such a place when we arrange this area and reveal its potential. In creating this public space, we aim to preserve its natural character while providing residents with more opportunities to spend quality leisure time in nature, and for children to enjoy a themed educational space,” says Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.
The main highlight and uniqueness of the public space implemented by the Vilnius Development Company, the capital’s public interest object development and management company, is a designed safe traffic playground for children, which will allow practical teaching of traffic rules. In the northern part of the area, near Sietyno Street and close to educational institutions, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, public transport stops, bicycle path models, and all main road signs will be installed. All traffic elements designed by the Vilnius Development Company team have been coordinated with the police.
“We see that children in Vilnius especially enjoy themed spaces where play is combined with education. This spring, we completed the firefighter-themed St. Florian’s Square, and in Tarandė, an alien-themed public space is currently being created. Our team, in creating these places, aims not only to install playgrounds but also to offer children interesting, engaging experiences that encourage exploring the environment and learning through play. The green area near Sietyno and V. Maciulevičius Streets will complement the network of themed spaces – here, from a young age, children will be able to learn traffic safety rules through play,” says Laura Joffė, head of the Vilnius Development Company.
Next to the safe traffic playground, an outdoor classroom will be installed – an educational space where people can sit together on wooden benches and listen to lessons or conduct other educational activities. White willows and common hawthorns will provide coziness and privacy to this classroom; these plants will also form a natural barrier from other public space passersby.
In the southern part of the area, children’s playgrounds and quiet relaxation zones with hammocks and benches are designed. The play equipment will be wooden to harmoniously blend into the green space.
Next to the Western bypass, a sports zone with exercise equipment is planned, adapted for residents and for training by officers of the Vilnius County Chief Police Commissariat located near the public space. Also, concrete binocular-shaped benches – gazebos – will be installed near the bypass – a visual highlight of this section. These benches will be illuminated at night and will provide shelter and noise protection during the day with their unique shape.
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Small architecture is planned throughout the area: benches, bicycle racks, a drinking water station, and more.
A tribute is also paid to nature. In dense greenery, bird feeders installed by residents can already be found, attracting birds and squirrels. This community initiative is planned to be supplemented with new birdhouses and feeders. The area will be quiet, and this particular place will remain unlit in the evening, thus protecting forest inhabitants.
Planting is planned so that the heights of plants gradually change from the street towards the forest, naturally connecting the street and forest spaces. The area will be supplemented with new trees and shrubs. A total of 26 new trees and 67 accent shrubs will be planted. All this will be integrated into the existing greenery of the area.
Paths are designed where residents have naturally worn them – thus preserving the connection with the existing environment and minimally disturbing the terrain.
According to Aurimas Žilinskas, director of UAB “Skominta”, the company performing the public space installation works, more and more public spaces are becoming attractions where Vilnius residents can escape from daily worries and rush, and find the joy of live communication.
“We are glad to contribute our long-term experience not only to the development of Vilnius city infrastructure but also to the education of young Vilnius residents,” says A. Žilinskas.
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