"Piaski-Szczygliczka" in Ostrów Wielkopolski
Occupying a scenic site in the north part of Ostrów Wielkopolski, Piaski-Szczygliczka is a leisure and sporting complex on a large man-made lake, combined with a Culture and Leisure Park. It was created in the 1970s, but never renovated, gradually falling into disrepair. Several years ago the town authorities along with the Urban Greenery Department set about an undertaking that changed the place beyond recognition.
The first major investment to trigger the development of Piaski was a new system of supplying the recreational lake with water. A network of deep wells improved its purity, the water further purified by a system of special pumps. New sailing equipment was purchased for on-site rentals. An attractive rope park for thrill seekers was also constructed.
The next phase of work saw the laying out of a wide hiking/biking path running around the entire lake, modernization of sports pitches and the construction of an elegant pier and two large playgrounds for children. Lighting was also installed, sanitary facilities were upgraded and new toilets were built. The project also included purchasing and placing street furniture: benches, rubbish bins and racks for bicycles. The beautiful sandy beach, often crowded in high season, was substantially expanded, which resulted in a great place for family strolls, biking, sports training, fun, recreation and bathing. The number of visitors to the park has increased several times over testifying to its enormous popularity in Wielkopolska.
Piaski is on the blue hiking trail and two biking trails (one of them being the long-distance Transwielkopolska Trasa Rowerowa). The lake and its surroundings are inhabited by about 170 bird species, and as it is located within the town, they are less timid here than in their natural habitat. If you are into bird-watching, your best bet is taking a walk around the lake with binoculars in hand. In spring and autumn, grebes, terns, wild geese, storks, herons, cranes, buzzards and sparrow hawks can be spotted on the shores or in the sky; occasionally, even the white-tailed eagle appears in the area. One of the biggest attractions in the park is a beekeeping museum displaying more than a hundred hives, some of them strikingly original, richly decorated and modelled on regional architecture.
In summer, Piaski is a venue for a reggae festival attracting performers from around the world, including Jamaica. In winter, the beach is taken over by the local members of the Walrus Club. So the park is bustling all year long. The project of modernizing the complex was nominated for the main award in the contest Poland Even More Beautiful. Seven Miracles of EU Funds in the Active Tourism category.
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