At the start of the school year, Prague reopened the Koníček children’s playground. The playground and its immediate surroundings have undergone a complete refurbishment over the past few months. Since the beginning of the renovation in April this year, the surfaces have been replaced, play elements repaired and added, and the greenery has been restored. The entire revitalisation cost nearly 16 million crowns.
“The playground with its artistic sculptures can once again serve the youngest visitors. Koníček is the second playground in the Royal Game Reserve to have undergone a complete overhaul in a short period. Earlier this spring, we opened the Kaštánek playground, just a few hundred metres away, which is more suited for ball games and athletics. Additionally, colleagues have renewed a number of grassy surfaces in our most beautiful park over the summer,” says Jana Komrsková, Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment and Climate Plan.
The Koníček playground features unique elements by the academic sculptor Alexandra Koláčková. The early 2000s artworks have been retained in their original form. Other play elements that had reached the end of their lifespan have been replaced with new ones, designed to complement the artistic elements in both layout and colour.
The playground now boasts new swings, a sandpit, ground trampolines, bouncing boards, rocking bowls, and, most notably, an extensive climbing forest for the youngest generation. Surfaces are partly made of washed gravel, with grass remaining outside the play areas. New solid oak benches have been added for parents.
In conjunction with the playground revitalisation, the surrounding parts of the Royal Game Reserve Stromovka have also been repaired. Grass areas have been restored, having had ample time over the summer to establish and stabilise. The reconstruction also affected the park pathways, with sloped sections newly paved with granite cobblestones and flat sections resurfaced with asphalt. These smooth paths now form an oval circuit around the playground and provide access from Mecserova Street.
New niches have been created for benches and waste bins. Four staircases have also been reconstructed. Along Mecserova Street, the original appearance of two staircases has been restored with historical romanticising elements inspired by tree trunks and stumps. The remaining staircases have been unified in material with the others in the park.
