Vistula river park

During a meeting of regional authorities and various representatives of local and regional governments involved in the cooperation, which took place on December 2, 2016 in Płock, the recent stage of Partners for International Business Programme has been summed up. A direction of strategy-related activities has been presented, supported by directional projects for the area defined by four zones: 1. Płock Connecting City, 2. Agriculture Linked by Water, 3. Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki – Gateway of Warsaw, 4. Leoncin Eco Blue Village.

The main concept encompassing all four zones has been featured in the Vistula River Park (VRP) formula.

What does the Vistula River Park concept stand for?

The Vistula River Par Concept encompasses the area of special development potential (river, agricultural areas, services-production background, cultural heritage areas etc.; total surface of around 1,868 km2). The concept has its spatial, social, economic and organisational aspects. The area also demands solving its specific problems in order to prevent and utilise its necessary resources. The approach to further works in this area, as proposed in this material, creates a basis for the creation of the Vistula River Park in an institutionalised form. Its creation and functioning is connected not only with implementation of the already existing projects. The Vistula River Park’s task is to set in motion and complete new, well-planned and managed future projects. The aim of VRP’s creation is strengthening economic, spatial and social development of this area based on the possibilities given by Vistula waterside areas inter alia. In the social and economic categories, Vistula River Park will constitute space for blooming careers of young entrepreneurs, thus fostering their attraction to the area and keeping them in it. The concept focuses mainly on the synergy effect of actions, initiatives and projects conducted in the Vistula River Park area.

The concept and the future organisational model of the VRP should be perceived as a shared activity space, opening possibilities for developing partnership – also with entities from beyond the local government sector. In order for the Park to succeed in creating space of cooperation and projects’ realisation, undertaking several key introductory activities is required. They are necessary in determining the organisational and legal model of the Park. They are inter alia: working out forms and rules of cooperation, determining the role of specific partners and binding them by mutual obligations, as well as involving funds in common conduct of undertakings etc. The key role here is played by trust in the lasting effect of actions taken as well as efficient and open communication inside the office structure and beyond.

The Vistula River Park is a pilot activity in Mazovia. It can set an example for other regions in terms of synergy effect, connecting project activities with building effective partnership as well as be an example of an organisation capable of managing this process in the future. Its significance and role have been defined in the following categories:

  1. organisational model,
  2. strategy,
  3. spatial-functional and environmental,
  4. educational-cultural,
  5. economic

In the local and regional aspect, the Vistula River Park means much more than implementation of individual projects. It is first and foremost a well-managed organisation with clear direction and development programme, able to initiate and finalise various undertakings in the framework of local government and private partnership.