Contaminated Areas as Recreational Places-Exploring the Validity of the Decisions Taken in the Development of Antonia Hill in Ruda Slaska, Poland

This paper describes the experimental developing of a post-zinc industry spoil heap in Ruda Slaska, Silesia (an industrial region of Poland), that was turned into a recreational area. The aim of the present article is to analyse the design process and evaluate its effects. The project in question was meant to be a pilot action of the international one entitled Implementation of Sustainable Land Use in Integrated Environmental Management of Functional Urban Areas-LUMAT, whose Polish part was the Action Plan for the Functional Urban Area of Chorzow, Ruda Slaska and Swietochlowice. The Antonia Hill project involved many aspects and fields of study in order to achieve its aims: limiting the health risk of the Hill's users, maximising the safety of its use as a recreational area, educating its users in the local history and their cultural identity, raising their awareness of the natural environment and its protection. The predominant remediation method was the process described by Loures and Vaz with a modified order of the elements so as to obtain the effect of remediation and development at the same time. The first step was carried out in the form of the site analysis and the potential adaptation possibilities. The next stage was the participatory workshops in the form of Enquiry by Design. The implementation was carried out in accordance with the evidence-based design. The multi-layered structure of the area was built by selecting ideas, activities and goals following the Modelling Nature Method. After the implementation, the facility evaluation process was made by means of the POE method.

Automated summary

This study describes the experimental transformation of a post-zinc industry spoil heap in Ruda Slaska, Silesia into a recreational area and evaluates its effects. The project aimed to reduce health risks, enhance safety, educate users on local history and cultural identity, and raise awareness on environmental protection. By following the remediation method proposed by Loures and Vaz, the project successfully achieved its goals through participatory workshops, evidence-based design, and a multi-layered structure based on the Modelling Nature Method.