Conceptual Design of an Urban Pocket Park Located in the Site of the Occurrence of a Nineteenth-Century Chapel Using Representatives of Local Xerothermic Vegetation

Abstract

The 19th century neo-Gothic chapel located in the Stradom district of Czestochowa, Southern Poland and built at the intersection of the main streets is a recognizable landmark of great historical value. Unfortunately, the current condition of the surroundings depreciates the charm of such a chapel, and thus does not encourage people to admire it. Therefore, in order to expose such a valuable object, we planned to create a conceptual design of a pocket park around this cultural monument. When choosing the location of any park, it is recommended to know the needs of the local residents, so we conducted a survey regarding their wishes. When designing the area, we intended to use species representing the vegetation characteristic of the Krakow–Czestochowa Upland located in Southern Poland. At the same time, we used a material typical of the area, namely limestone. Design principles around the chapel were taken into account, separating the sacred and profane zones with the intention of giving this site a unique character and creating the first urban pocket park of this kind.

1. Introduction

People who spend their childhood and adult years in areas surrounded by forests, meadows, or numerous gardens and green spaces have about a fifty-five percent lower risk of physical and mental disorders than those who have no greenery around their place of residence. Studies have shown that green infrastructure in the neighborhood has an unequivocally positive effect on people’s physical and mental well-being [1,2,3,4] and the literature cited therein. Researchers claim that more attention should be paid to increasing the number of properly designed green spaces in cities. However, in large cities, there is often a problem with finding a suitable place for landscaped greenery because of the dense network of buildings. In such cases, the currently recommended solution in landscape architecture is to design small parks characterized by freedom of spatial arrangement [5,6,7]. When properly designed, pocket-sized urban parks enable residents to engage in both outdoor activities and psychological restoration. It is assumed that the maximum area can be up to 5000 square meters, although typical pocket parks average from 300 to about 1000 square meters in area [8] and are called parkettes, mini-parks or pocket parks. These terms are used to refer to small outdoor areas, often with benches and fountains or other forms of blue infrastructure. Pocket parks are increasingly appearing in cities all over the world; they are meant to be an interesting form of development for previously underdeveloped land [9,10]. Thus, the real advantage of this type of spatial solution is that there are no specific requirements regarding the area of consideration, which can range from a few to several square meters (and sometimes even more) for the spatial solutions used. When designing such a green space, one tries to refer either to the natural history of the given area or to solutions used in a distant region, where specific pocket parks have been designed [11,12,13].

Poland joined the trend of creating pocket parks in the 2000s. It is assumed that the first such park was designed in Krakow in the Zwierzyniec district. Currently, pocket parks in Krakow are called “Parks of Cracovians”, and to date, 18 have been created. Other cities, such as Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Łódź, have also introduced the trend of designing pocket parks [9,11,12,13,14,15]. In the territory of the city of Czestochowa, so far, pocket parks are not found as often as they are in other above-mentioned cities such as Krakow or Wroclaw [9,11,14]. According to current data, there are no more than nine of them in the area mentioned, which is rather few if we take into account the considerable amount of temporary paved areas within the city that go unused for long periods of time. For this reason, the aim of this study was to design an area in close proximity to the 19th century neo-Gothic chapel located in the Stradom district of Czestochowa in Southern Poland. The project undertook the transformation of the area into an attractive green enclave with great biological diversity. Our attention was focused on the chapel that has existed there for years, while using plant material representing the floristic diversity of the region, and in particular, representatives of the xerothermic vegetation that overgrows the limestone rocks of the Krakow–Czestochowa Upland [16,17,18,19]. At the same time, innovative principles of designing the greenery in the vicinity of the chapel were taken into account, separating the sacred and profane zones. We intended to give this place a unique character and create the first pocket park of this type. However, in accordance with the principles, before starting the design, appropriate cartographic and literature materials and graphic analyses were prepared. A dendrological inventory was also carried out, as well as communication, functional, composition and visual analyses. A survey was also conducted among residents of the district regarding their needs and requirements for green areas. Based on the data and information obtained, a conceptual design of an urban green area was developed.

2. Literature Review

2.1. The Natural Conditions of the Study Area

Czestochowa is located in the south of Poland in the Silesian Voivodeship, among the regions of the Krakow–Czestochowa Jurassic Upland, the Wieluń Upland and the Upper Warta Depression. The city is located along the Warta River at average altitudes of 250–270 m above sea level, with the highest point—Mount Ossona—316.7 m above sea level, and the lowest point—the locality on the Warta River on the eastern part of Mirów—236 m above sea level. The city is located in the temperate climatic zone, and the local climate is mainly shaped by atmospheric precipitation, air temperature and isolation. Their intensity in the studied area has changed over the last years. In recent decades, there has been an increase in average annual air temperatures and the number of sunny days during the plant vegetation period, while atmospheric precipitation does not at all show a similar trend to what it was before. As a result, near Czestochowa, there are on average four to five hours of direct sunlight per day in the spring and autumn. Furthermore, there are few windy days. Western and south-western winds predominate in the area [20].

The Silesian Voivodeship is geologically diverse region [21,22]. The upper part consists of glacial deposits and the deeper part is limestone from the Upper Jurassic period [19]. The total area of forests within Czestochowa district is well above 648 ha. Fresh coniferous forest and mixed coniferous forest predominate, with a smaller share of moist mixed coniferous forest and mixed forest. The main forest-forming species are Scots pine and English oak. Silver birch, black alder and common hornbeam are an admixture to the main forest-forming species. The area of parks and green areas is currently 296.2 ha.

2.2. Brief Overview of the History of the Site

Learning the history of the 19th century neo-Gothic chapel in Stradom (Figure 1), we will learn some theories about its origins. The first one assumes that the construction of the chapel dates back to the January Uprising of 1863, and that a national treasure would be hidden here. When a family who had illegally stolen this treasure began to decline in health, they funded a chapel. A second, more likely theory has also been put forward, according to which it is a votive chapel built in 1885 on the site of an earlier wooden one from the 18th century, and was founded by Boguslawski, whose manor was located nearby. The altar would have been funded by a landowner, whose financial wealth increased during the Japanese–Russian war. The cross, on the other hand, was erected by the Kostrzewski family. The statue of St. Florian above the main entrance was made in 1929 by Florian Mazur and erected at the end of World War II in 1945 [23].

2.3. Basic Data on Xerothermic Vegetation

Xerothermic plants occur in communities known as xerothermic grasslands. These communities thrive in sunny habitats that heat up significantly, and are characterized by low water availability in the summer due to the predominance of evaporation over rainfall. In winter, there is usually a dense snow cover providing a reservoir of water during the spring snowmelt. Xerothermic grasslands occur locally in eastern and south-western Europe due to dry and warm summers in this part of the continent and high air and soil summer temperatures. However, these valuable plant communities may be under threat due to secondary succession [24,25,26,27].

In Poland, such communities develop most often on slopes with dry calcareous substrate or on limestone with an admixture of dolomites, hence numerous species representing xerothermic plants belong to the xerophilic and calciphilic category [28]. Sometimes such communities also occur on basalt outcrops [29]. Thus, the occurrence of these communities is closely dependent on the local orographic, soil and climatic conditions [30,31,32,33]. A specific entomofauna is often associated with such vegetation [34,35].

These steppe grasslands are very species-rich, and thus they are characterized by high floristic diversity. The regions where the discussed communities occur in Poland include the Krakow–Czestochowa Upland, the Pieniny Belt, the Kielce Upland or the Lower Vistula Valley [32,33,36]. The preservation of xerothermic communities is often not an entirely natural process; they occur where forests were once cleared and animals grazed. Grasses and herbs give these grasslands a characteristic appearance. Often, most of these extrazonal habitats are threatened because their relatively small areas create opportunities for other species to grow, threatening the integrity of the grasslands [30]. For this reason, some xerothermic grasslands are subject to area protection, and rare species are under species protection. Most such communities in Poland belong to the class Festuco-Brometea. They occupy slightly wetter and fertile sites, which influences their species composition [25,36]. Stipa grasslands (either Potentillo-Stipetum capillate or Sisymbrio-Stipetum capillate) are poorer in terms of species richness. Their characteristic feature is the occurrence of grasses with narrow leaves and a lower density of vegetation [33,37]. An important feature of their occurrence is the slope exposure, which must be southern or close to it to ensure high sunlight and soil heating. In contrast, rock grasslands occurring on shelves and steep limestone walls represent pioneer vegetation. They are made of tufted grasses growing in low densities that occur on slopes with different exposures. Xerothermic herbaceous plants are a specific type of vegetation that grows in the transition zone between typical xerothermic grasslands and some shrubby communities.

3. Material and Methods

3.1. Basic Characteristic of Area to Be Developed

The area to be developed is located in the south-eastern part of the Czestochowa at the intersection of Piastowska and Sabinowska streets in the Stradom district, in an open, unfenced area (Figure 2). The area is located between some residential and service buildings. At the northern boundary of the study area is Piastowska Street, at the eastern boundary is Sabinowska Street, at the southern boundary is Kosynierska Street, while on the west side, there is a private residential property. The area is adjacent to the buildings on one side, which gives the impression of an open, unlimited architectural and landscape interior.

The boundary of the study area covers an area of approx. 33 acres. The area is flat, without slopes, but there are some gaps and losses in the soil in the form of pits. There is a chapel made of solid ceramic bricks. This chapel has been lately renovated. The pavement is not in good condition, with some slabs cracked and others crooked. The footpaths, made by passers-by to shorten their route to the bus stop, are not suitable for walking when the water stagnates and mud forms. Next to the chapel, there is a wooden cross and a board on which obituaries are posted to provide information about the funerals of the district’s residents. There are small plantings of trees and shrubs. The area is also overgrown with some synanthropic species, i.e., self-seeded grasses and admixtures of weeds, forming a poor vegetation cover. None of the existing species were intentionally placed there. The photographic inventory was made, but only the chosen photos are given here (Figure 2).

3.2. A Dendrological Inventory

During the inventory, biometric measurements were taken of the trees and shrubs growing in the study area. The measurements taken concerned the height, width of the crown and trunk circumference, measured at chest height (130 cm from the ground). The measurements were taken using a measuring tape. The species were identified based on the catalog of the Nurserymen Association and own knowledge. Each plant was marked with a number, entered in the inventory table and marked on the plan (Figure 3). There were 26 species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the analyzed area.

In terms of species composition, common ash, black locust, Norway maple, plum, horse-chestnut and common lilac were found growing singly or linearly, forming a row. Most of these plants were in fairly good phytosanitary condition, with the exception of a single chestnut tree infested by the chestnut-bearing leaf miner, and one dried-up common ash. Plants were planted mostly haphazardly, without a planting plan. The lack of care and proper pruning was evident, so most of the trees look unsightly. There are numerous self-seeded trees in the area in question, which have not been marked on the map due to their small size. Some of the trees were scheduled for removal.

3.3. Basic Analysis of the Communication System

The communication system of the existing area is currently underdeveloped. A single 1.5 m wide path runs through the study area (from Piastowska Street to Sabinowska Street) near the southern wall of the chapel. Roadways or gravel roads adjacent to the planned park were also marked. Two-meters wide pedestrian sidewalks were located next to the roadways, thus meeting the design standards. Exit bays located to the nearby bus stops were also indicated (Figure 3).

3.4. Basic Analysis of Functional Zones

Before the design began, the development area was not particularly diverse in terms of the functions performed. In its vicinity, there were residential buildings and commercial establishments, such as a shopping center, a dental clinic and an elementary school. In addition, there were some fragments of undeveloped greenery. The study area is located between residential buildings, commercial buildings and roadways (Figure 3).

3.5. Compositional and Visual Analysis

The area does not have a clear composition, which results from the lack of any infrastructure. The only building is the chapel, through the middle of which runs the compositional axis; this object serves as a cultural accent (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The functional and visual route runs along Piastowska and Sabinowska streets. We can observe buildings located in its vicinity, such as those at Kosynierska Street and Sabinowska, which definitely reduce the aesthetic value. The only positive aspect is the existing chapel and the presence of greenery. Unfortunately, the area is overall unsightly due to the lack of development and the lack of a well-thought-out arrangement of vegetation.

3.6. Analysis of the Social Survey

For the purposes of this work, a social survey was conducted among residents of the Stradom district in the Czestochowa city. The survey was conducted using the Google Forms application in order to learn about the needs related to the area under consideration. Participants received a link and after reading the description, they were required to answer 10 questions of single or multiple choice. The survey was answered by 166 people.

4. Results

4.1. Results of Social Survey

According to the survey results, the majority of the respondents were women (65.2%), men constituted 30.3%, while 4.5% of respondents decided not to reveal their gender. The survey was answered by the largest number of people in the age group of 20–40 (37.9%), then 40–60 (30.3%), 10–20 (22.7%) and to the least extent by people aged 60+ (9.1%). As many as 69.7% of respondents were residents of the city Czestochowa; the remaining 30.3% did not live permanently in Czestochowa. It is important that 89.4% of respondents stated that the city of Czestochowa lacked enough of the green areas, and only 10.6% of respondents had no opinion on the subject. The respondents almost unanimously agreed that a park should be designed in the Stradom district. No one considered the park unnecessary, whereas only 7.6% had no opinion on this subject. In the question about the frequency of visiting parks, the most votes were given to going several times a week and several times a month (33.3%). A total of 21.2% of the respondents indicated they went less than once a month, and 12.1% of them went to the park every day.

To obtain information on the most common activities in the park, responders were given several options to choose from, as well as the opportunity to add their own suggestions. Most people chose the option of walking (86.4% votes), followed by meeting friends (42.4% votes), actively spending time with family (25.8%), simply doing sports (18.2%) and walking your dog (15.2%) of votes. The remaining suggestions were added by the responders themselves—putting the beauty of nature into a painting or reading quietly and listening to the sound of trees. Moreover, according to the respondents, the most important aspects they pay attention to during visits in the park included cleanliness of the paths, the appropriate condition of small architecture, lighting and the safety of visitors.

4.2. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats—SWOT Analysis of the Area in Question

In order to collect all diagnoses and insights, a SWOT analysis was conducted (

Table 1. Results of SWOT analysis of an area under consideration in the Czestochowa city.

Strengths	Weaknesses
- appropriate location on the main streets of the district - access to public transport - the presence of a historic chapel which represents a cultural monument - easy access to shops, clinics and schools in the vicinity - favorable conditions for creating a pocket park	- currently non-functional surface type - lack of any small architectural elements - lack of lighting in the area - occurrence of wild promontories - the small number of plant species presently - lack of a predisposed function of the area
Opportunities	Threats
- designing a representative of the district area - creating relaxation and recreation zones - introduction of necessary small architectural elements that fit the entire layout - use of xerothermic plants and limestone referring to the characteristics of the region - attracting users to this area	- neglect of vegetation - possible destruction of the designed small architectural elements

). Once it was completed, the main advantages and disadvantages of the site were identified, as well as some opportunities and possible threats. The analysis presented in the tabular summary includes the state of the paths, the building and the small architecture. Such a summary will allow us to see two potentially opposing development paths, which could be described as either an optimistic or pessimistic one.

4.3. The Valorization and Basic Guidelines

The site currently has no significant functions, so it remains rather undeveloped (Figure 2 and Figure 3, Table 1). Currently, haphazardly planted trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants (self-seeded grasses, weeds) do not make the development area an attractive place. Therefore, giving functions in the form of different zones will help to give a specific character to the area. The introduction of xerothermic plant species will increase the biodiversity and attractiveness of the site. At the same time, direct reference to the vegetation characteristics of the region in which the designed area is located will be taken into account. The trees at the site are mostly in satisfactory condition, but they were found in the area accidentally and have never been subjected to maintenance procedures. Some of them will need to be removed, so that a park can be created according to the new design with appropriately selected species. A plant composition should be created on the existing area. It is also planned to pave the area with a functional layout, permeable for rainwater.

Strict guidelines have been developed on the basis of site visits, analyses conducted and the results of a social survey, in order to act in accordance with the expectations of residents. The main element of implementation is to give the area a variety of functions, highlighting the attractiveness of the 19th century chapel by designing an attractive green area around this cultural monument. One very important goal was the introduction of selected xerothermic plant species that will ensure an increase in the biodiversity of flora and fauna; in the latter case, mainly pollinating species. Efforts should be made to ensure that the design concept is consistent with the provisions of the local development plan.

4.4. The Guidelines for Development and Small Architecture

Leaving the chapel and the nearby crosses in an unchanged form; introduction of small architecture that will serve users and meet their needs; small architecture and surface style adapted to the architecture of the building and the character of the place; delineation of new land development; assigning appropriate functions to the designed area.

4.5. The Guidelines for the Functional and Compositional Layout

All introduced elements must be consistent with each other and designed in such a way as not to interfere with the use of the area; the new functions that are attractive to users and meet their needs have been planned; it is planned to introduce an appropriate communication network that will be functional for users; the introduced plant species must, by definition, harmonize with each other and the rest of the designed layout.

4.6. Concept of Design

The assumption was to give a function to the area, to emphasize the attractiveness of the 19th century chapel and to introduce xerothermic vegetation. It can be divided into two parts, each of which will focus on a different development of the space. The part of the area located by the chapel itself will constitute a sacred zone and will be designed in accordance with the style of design for sacred buildings. The second part will be a proper pocket park with xerothermic plant species and zones designed in accordance with the needs of the residents of the Stradom district. The paths will be designed in a functional way to ensure that users can move freely around the area.

Poland lies within the range of so-called extrazonal xerothermic grasslands (Eastern and Southern European). On rendzina, which are classified as shallow soils, floral grassland communities composed of xerothermic, calcareous species develop. Therefore, these are communities of negative water balance formed of grasses and spontaneously flowering perennials. Some of the species found here are included in this conceptual work. A very important aspect of this conceptual project is its beneficial impact on the environment, as it enables carbon sequestration in both plant material and the soil—as a result of the gradual microbiological transformation of plant residues into soil organic matter (SOM).

4.7. Planting Guidelines

Existing woody vegetation should be partially removed, according to the data included in the inventory table (Figure 3). Some care procedures should be performed on species that are not designated for removal—sanitary and corrective pruning. Some of the existing perennials (weeds) constituting low vegetation should be removed in order to properly integrate the designed space. The application of xerothermic plants and those that fit sacral areas in the design should be planted in the area of the mini-park. Thanks to this, the designed greenery should increase the attractiveness of the area and emphasize the compositional axes and interiors. Considering the urgent need to preserve biodiversity and improve the quality of the life of citizens, pocket parks also represent a beneficial solution in terms of environmental impact.

4.8. Projected Functions of Development Area

The area can be used in many ways, including those related to transportation, leisure, education or recreation. A significant part of the project is occupied by the recreational part of the pocket park, the so-called profanum zone. It has been separated from the sacrum zone by a main avenue and a hedge growing alongside it. The course of the paths in this area has been designed so that one can walk freely to each of the streets surrounding the park. This is an element that was not present there before, and it was sorely lacking. The designed alleys meet standards in terms of width, which will allow comfortable walking not only for pedestrians, but also for people with strollers. At the alleys, benches have been designed so that it is possible to sit down and rest at any time. The area will be properly illuminated to be used safely and comfortably in the evening.

The designed pocket park is intended to provide its users with a place to relax and recreation, but also fulfill an educational function. We designed a reading area, where users can delve into their favorite reads and borrow a book from a booth set up in the area. It will also make it possible to share their books with others that may have been collecting dust in our home libraries for years. For educational purposes, showcases will also be erected in the area with information about the plants. From each of them, the user will be able to find out what species occur on a given site and what their characteristics are. This will make it possible to raise awareness of what xerothermic plants are to the people who previously had no knowledge about them.

4.9. Some Additional Details of Design

The selection of plant materials are presented in

Table 2. The plant material needed to establish a flower meadow in pocket park in the Stradom district of Czestochowa city.

No.	Latin Name	National Name	Plant Height[cm]	Flower Color	References
Plant material intended for the establishment of a flower meadow
Plants that bloom from spring to summer
1	Anthylis vulneraria L.	Przelot pospolity	15–30	yellow	[17,18]
2	Anthemis tinctoria L.	Rumian żółty	20–30	yellow	[17,18]
3	Alyssum montanum L.	Smagliczka pagórkowa	20–35	yellow	[17,18]
Plants that bloom from summer to autumn
4	Achillea collina Becker ex Rchb	Krwawnik pagórkowy	45–50	white	[17,18]
5	Achillea millefolium subsp. pannonica	Krwawnik pannoński	40–50	white	[17,18]
6	Arabis hirsuta (L.) Scop	Gęsiówka szorstkowłosista	15–30	white	[17,18]
7	Galium cynanchicum (L.) Scop	Marzanka pagórkowa	15–25	white	[17,18]
8	Centaurea scabiosa L.	Chaber driakiewnik	50–100	pink	[18,24]
9	Dianthus cartusianorum L.	Goździk kartuzek	20–40	pink	[18,24]
10	Galium verum L.	Przytulia właściwa	60–80	yellow	[18,24]
11	Scabiosa ochroleuca L.	Driakiew żółta	25–40	yellow	[24,25]
12	Scabiosa canescens Walds&Kit	Driakiew wonna	30–40	pink	[24,25]
13	Thymus pulegioides L.	Macierzanka zwyczajna	25–35	pink	[24,25]
14	Veronica spicata L.	Przetacznik kłosowy	20–45	blue	[11,16]
15	Stachys recta L.	Czyściec prosty	15–30	yellow	[18,21]
Mix of grasses
16	Avenula pratensis (L.) Dumort	Owsica łąkowa	90–100	green	[24,25]
17	Bromus erectus Huds	Stokłosa prosta	45–100	green	[25,26]
18	Bromus inermis Leyss	Stokłosa bezostna	100–110	green	[26,29]
19	Festuca rubra L.	Kostrzewa czerwona	30–40	green/red	[30,31]
20	Melica ciliata L.	Perłówka otrzęsiona	45–80	green/white	[30,31]
21	Stipa Joannis Čelak	Ostnica Jana	50–80	green/white	[31,33]
22	Stipa pulcherrima Köch	Ostnica powabna	75–85	green/white	[24,31]
23	Stipa capillata L.	Ostnica włosowata	35–100	green/white	[34,36]

(and in Table S1 in Supplementary Materials), and the elements of small architecture in the graphical abstract. The types of materials used for the pavement are also shown there. The greenery is divided into the greenery of the sacrum zone and that for the profanum zone. In the profanum zone, the greenery consists of proper mixtures selected for xerothermic grassland sites (Table 2). Two types of grasslands have been chosen, one of which will be sown with a grass mixture, the other with the participation of different flowering plant species. This will allow the diversification of the area in terms of planned vegetation.

In addition, it is planned to plant several woody plants in order to provide shade in both zones as well as a hedge that will separate the area from the street. We also propose a climber on the pergola to create shade from the sun for the people relaxing in the park.

Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’, is a tree that naturally grows in the form of a dense green umbrella (Figure 4). It can grow up to about 3 m high and has up to 8 m of crown diameter. The tree grows rather slowly and in autumn the leaves turn yellow. In winter, it also remains attractive with its twisted shoots. In addition, it is a plant that tolerates air pollution well.

Ligustrum ovalifolium is a shrub that tolerates pruning very well and is easily thickened. It can grow up to 4 m, but when properly molded can have a recommended height. It tolerates any type of soil well. It is evergreen, blooming in white in late June and early July.

Tilia platyphyllos ‘Fastigiata’ is a large, vigorous tree. It has a wide, conical crown and grows up to 30 m high. It has green, heart-shaped leaves, which turn yellow in autumn. It blooms in June.

Wisteria sinensis ‘Amethyst’ is an ornamental vine with purple flowers gathered in dangling inflorescences. The plant is most attractive during flowering and is a typical melliferous species, which is frequently visited by pollinating insects. It grows vigorously and is a long-lived plant.

The selected xerothermic species are listed in Table 2, where basic information on the species are given.

4.10. The Small Architecture

Benches: The first bench will be made from European oak wood. The wooden seat is set on steel legs. The bench with a height of 45 cm high is fixed to the ground with screws. The seat connects with the back wall in the middle of the pergola beam. The second bench was designed on poles, made of clinker bricks. The seat is made of oak wood planks with a depth of 5 cm. The planks are attached to the brick posts with screws, and the bench itself in the ground is fixed with concrete foundations. The third type of bench is a city bench made under specification LA.17.03, constructed of wood and steel. It will be placed in the reading room under the tree canopy. The wood color chosen from the template is rustic oak; the steel color is painted cast iron.

The pergola has two side beams and an upper beam, forming a vault. The beams are connected to each other with metal connectors and screws. They are fixed in the ground with steel anchors, which are mounted in the soil in a concrete foundation. As mentioned above, the pergola performs the function of shielding the park users from the sun through Wisteria sinensis which can climb up its structure.

Lamps: (1) A lamp made of European oak wood, 96 cm high. It has a 1 cm gap between the wooden elements, in which the LED strip is placed. The fixture is made of transparent tempered glass. Mounted in the ground using a concrete foundation and screwed with screws. (2) An LED spotlight mounted in the surface in front of the chapel and the cross to illuminate them from below. The manufacturer of the element is Luncade.11. (3) Ground lamps placed under the treetops to illuminate them appropriately.

The waste bin is made of European oak wood. There is a 1 cm gap between the wooden elements, filled with a steel element. The filling is a steel bucket that is pulled out for easier emptying. The bin is placed on a post made of clinker bricks measuring 16 × 41 cm and attached to it with screws.

Chess: A concrete chess table with four seats will be placed in the chess zone. The color of the boards chosen from the catalog is oak; the color of the concrete is river stone.

Playground: Selected playground elements include a climbing set with two towers and Lavender 415 pendulum swings, made of powder-coated galvanized steel.

Outdoor gym: The outdoor gym is a cardio zone, so the elements chosen are for this type of exercise. These is a bike, an elliptical trainer and a treadmill.

Freestanding outdoor display case with information on plants for digging in is made of powder-coated aluminum profiles. The glass in the display case is made of acrylic glass.

Clinker brick bookcase with wooden doors and a roof covered with bituminous shingles.

Surface for movement: Four types of surfaces have been designed for the area. (1) The main path is made of wood-like concrete slabs laid on sand and gravel. (2) The paths in the park are made of limestone slabs to refer to the geological characteristics of the Krakow–Czestochowa Upland region. The slabs are laid on a 10 cm layer of sand and a 15 cm layer of gravel. (3) The surface in the reading and chess zones is made of clinker pavement. The color and material are to refer to the 19th century chapel located in the area. The clinker pavement was laid on a 10 cm layer of sand and a 15 cm layer of gravel. (4) The playground and outdoor gym are equipped with a surface made of red rubber slabs, with anti-slip properties to provide cushioning in the event of a fall. The rubber plates were placed on a 5 cm layer of concrete and a 20 cm layer of gravel.

5. Conclusions

The aim set by the authors was to bring out the potential of this unused area where the historic site is located, and at the same time design an interesting place for the residents of the neighborhood. In line with this objective, a project concept was developed for the area adjacent to the 19th century neo-Gothic chapel in Stradom district of the city. An important additional goal was to enhance the landscape values through appropriate land development. In order to gain public support, a survey was conducted regarding the needs of residents. Based on the data obtained, design guidelines were prepared, constituting a framework for creating a concept for the urban greenery.

As a result, residents would gain an attractive green area for leisure activities while learning about the history of their district. Such a transformation of an unused area into an attractive place was in line with geological and floristic characteristic features of the Krakow–Czestochowa Upland, where the city is located. An important issue is the possibility of carbon sequestration in both plant material and the soil—as a result of the gradual microbiological transformation of plant residues into soil organic matter (SOM). This is therefore an innovative project to create an urban pocket park taking into account the requirements of the Green Deal and local cultural resources.

We believe that, in accordance with the assumption to combine historical significance of the site with the creation of biodiversity in green areas, the local administration will soon be able to implement this project.