The Notec Boulevards

The Notec Boulevards are a priority part of the investment in the revitalization program of Wieleń and restore the city’s proper access to the Noteć River, which for centuries has been an important factor shaping its position and rank as a riverside city. The Noteć once encompassed an economically vibrant center, but also marked the border of the country after World War I.

Wieleń has been trying for many years to ensure that its residents could take advantage of the benefits resulting from the city’s location on the river, which is also the Vistula-Oder waterway, which is part of the international waterway E-70. From the connection with the Bydgoszcz Canal to the mouth of the Warta River, it belongs to inland surface waters considered navigable, called “inland waterways”.

The investment area is located in the vicinity of the city’s historic urban layout and a canalized river, the operation of which is subject to the rules imposed by the Polish Waters State Water Management Company. As part of the project, a pedestrian and bicycle route was created along the river, over 500 m long, with connections to the city space and the green shoreline.

The project included separate modules, which were given specific names and assigned functions that enabled users using the E-70 waterway to meet their expectations in terms of recreation and relaxation, tourism and water sports in a civilized and friendly way, and will also restore Wieleń to its due importance, as a city located on an international waterway.

The local Revitalization Program designated: the “Boulevards” module, forming one sequence of: two mooring quays (marina) No. 1 and 2 with lengths of 120 and 58 meters, as well as two shore strips and a retaining wall; “Green Classroom” module – a space for integrating school youth and conducting outdoor activities (educational activities: natural and ecological); “Educational paths” module (ornithological and historical related to Wieleń); “School gardens” module (as a place for school-age children to learn how to care for and plant plants); module “Fun? Naturally!” – playground made of natural materials – acacia wood.

The main idea of the project was to create a place that was friendly and as close as possible to the natural banks of the river. The canalized Noteć, which has a navigable function, received unconcreted shorelines with reinforced slopes made of stones partially recovered from the river and locally obtained stone pebbles and grass with micro-clover. For utility reasons, an asphalt pedestrian and bicycle path was designed, which increases accessibility for all users, including people with disabilities. Therefore, there was also an entrance ramp to quay No. 1. The mooring places were divided into two parts: comfortable quay No. 1 with appropriate infrastructure equipment – above the bridge and a mooring quay below the bridge, purely for communication purposes. Along the pedestrian and bicycle route, peninsulas with wooden benches and park baskets have been designed, which, integrated into the meadow greenery, constitute a place for individual relaxation. Individual modules are covered with low greenery – ornamental and meadow grasses (not requiring watering), native greenery and high greenery – planted linden trees.

During the work, care was taken to utilize the potential of existing trees and, taking into account floodplain and conservation guidelines, the investment will be enriched with new tree lines. The project aimed to reduce the carbon footprint by using local materials and creating monuments of inanimate nature, as well as ensuring maximum permeability of rainwater to the ground. The boulevards, made more attractive by educational and recreational infrastructure, enlivened and restored the walking character of this part of the city.