Silesian Culture and Recreation Park

Silesian Culture and Recreation Park
Japan Garden within Silesian Central Park
Type	Urban park
Location	Katowice and Chorzów, Silesia, Poland
Area	620 hectares (1,532.1 acres) 6.2 square kilometres (2.4 sq mi)
Created	1950s/1960s
Status	Open all year
Website	http://wpkiw.com.pl

Silesian Culture and Recreation Park or Silesian Central Park or Voivodship Park of Culture and Recreation (Polish: Śląski Park Kultury i Wypoczynku, Wojewódzki Park Kultury i Wypoczynku), is a recreation complex in the center of the Upper-Silesian Metropolis (bordering of Chorzów and Katowice) in Silesia, Poland. It is the largest city park of this type in Europe.

It was founded in the 1950s-1960s from an initiative of local politician Jerzy Ziętek as a popular community center for sports, arts, and recreation. Its area is 620 hectares. In addition to the extensive green area, the following are located in the park:

• Silesian Stadium
• Silesian Zoological Garden
• Silesian Planetarium
• Silesian Amusement Park
• Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park
• Katowice International Fair Grounds
• Stadium of GKS Katowice
• Shooting range
• a swimming-pool complex
• a water sports center
• tennis courts
• the rose-garden
• The Technical Progress Centre
• a hotel complex, the Polish Tourist' Society and the Polish Scouts' Association district centers, restaurants, cafés and show pavilions where flower shows and other exhibits are held.

Gallery

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  The Dinosaurs Valley in Silesian Zoological Garden (reconstructions of prehistoric reptiles)

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  One of the many sculptures within Silesian Central Park

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External links

• (Polish) Website Park
• (Polish) Website Silesian Planetarium
• (Polish) Gallery (photo)