Round 2 of grant program for public space beautification

City has selected projects to be supported under round 2 of grant program for public space beautification

20 projects totaling CZK 5.2 million applied for funding in the second year of the grant program “fajnOVy prostor” (attractive public space), which aims to transform streets, squares, parks and other public spaces. The City Council approved financial support for 14 of these projects in the total amount of CZK 3.11 million. Six projects did not meet some of the criteria set by the program, and thus were not granted the funds. The program’s allocation was CZK 5 million.

Compared to the first year in 2017, the amount of grant per project decreased from CZK 1 million to CZK 500 thousand, and the range of potential applicants narrowed to only natural persons (non-entrepreneurs) and NGOs (associations, foundations, cooperatives and endowment funds, publicly beneficial organizations, etc.).

“Now, grant applicants exclude large institutions and companies. We believed that lowering the maximum contribution would support smaller projects with a community dimension and increase their number. While last year we received an application to support 16 projects, this year it was 20”, said Kateřina Šebestová, the Deputy Mayor.

A total of 16 projects applying for a total of CZK 5.7 million were submitted in the program last year. Of these, the city supported 11 applications worth CZK 4.1 million. Completed projects include the repair of valuable sculptures in Milada Horáková Park, children’s sand pit in Zábřeh or Seating under the Chestnut Tree. Other very interesting projects, which are yet to be finished, include the Community Park Tržnice on Černá louka and the natural park Hrabovjanka, which is implemented with intensive engagement of local citizens.

This year, a project had to be supported by at least 15 citizens aged at least 15 by signing a signature sheet. Another condition for providing a grant is to involve the public in the preparation and implementation of the project. The call aims to involve active citizens in the development of the city and the collaboration in creating the urban space. The citizens naturally create and develop communities around selected projects, which leads to better and more meaningful use of space, as well as to preventing vandalism and overall increase in collective security in the city.

It was also necessary to obtain the consent of the plot owner in advance, to make it clear to the expert committee that the project is feasible, the plot owner agrees with it and there is no obstacle to its implementation. The grant conditions are available at www.ostrava.cz under Grants, and at http://fajnova.cz/projekt/fajnovyprostor/. Relevant links to lists of the supported and rejected projects from the second year of the first round of the grant program will also be provided.